273 – Has that guy already made a move? (3)
“Rejected.”
The envoys were taken aback by Giselle’s firm words.
“Why not? Do you still think Raybold is vying for the strongest in the North against Desmond? That’s a serious misunderstanding.”
“Why?”
“First of all, usurper Amelia is a woman. She has no experience in governing a territory, let alone in war. She was just a young lady who knew how to gracefully hold a teacup, right? The rebellion succeeded just by ambushing the feast by sheer luck.”
“Hmm….”
“You can see from the current fight against Baron Valua. It’s been several months now, and they haven’t even breached the castle, despite having five times the troops.”
At those words, Giselle smirked.
Baron Valua is a master tactician. Moreover, Amelia is being passive. So it’s only natural that the war drags on.
If they had thought about either of those facts, they wouldn’t have made such statements.
The envoy, mistaking Giselle’s laughter as a sign that he was getting through, continued to persuade her earnestly.
“We are territories allied with Count Raybold. The heir, the Fourth Prince Davin, is still alive, so we have plenty of justification. If we attack, Baron Valua will respond from the castle.”
“Then we can win?”
“Of course, how can a mere girl who can’t even handle Baron Valua stop our alliance? Let’s seize this opportunity.”
Giselle waved her hand as if dismissing something bothersome.
“Enough. I’m not interested, so you all handle it.”
“The legitimate heir of Raybold is still alive. We can’t set a precedent by letting the usurper go. Besides, traditionally, women are not recognized as lords in the North. An absurd event is happening here in the North.”
There were several reasons the lords were joining together to attack Raybold.
First, letting a traitor go would set a bad precedent.
It was necessary to show that the other lords wouldn’t tolerate a usurper. That way, such dangerous events wouldn’t happen in their own territories.
Amelia’s being a woman irked the northern lords.
In the barren and rugged North, strong men always led and ruled. They relied on such customs and traditions, yet a woman became a lord. And through rebellion, no less.
They absolutely could not allow such a thing to impact others. These trivial matters accumulated and changed people’s thoughts.
The lords, who always wanted to maintain their power, didn’t overlook such risks.
While those reasons were important, there was a more crucial reason.
“Raybold is a vast and fertile land. If we help Fourth Prince Davin, we should be able to receive some land as a reward according to tradition.”
This was the truth. They intended to attack the chaotic Raybold and carve a piece for themselves. Looking down on Amelia also contributed to their decision.
Giselle laughed again at their passionate persuasion.
“Kill Amelia? With just you guys?”
In Giselle’s past life, even the King of Mercenaries couldn’t kill Amelia. If she could have, she would have done it right after her reincarnation.
Desmond was eyeing Perdium, and since he couldn’t act immediately, he left her alone.
She was that dangerous of a person. The thought of these shabby guys defeating her was beyond imagination.
To begin with, her ambitions wouldn’t end simply with the title of Count of Raybold.
However… in the strategy Giselle was currently taking, she did need these fools. She needed to buy time while using her ambitions to the fullest.
“I won’t participate in the war. Instead, I’ll help with something else.”
“What would that be?”
“You’re here to obtain food, right? I’ll supply the food.”
“Aren’t we here to get food anyway? I’ll provide the provisions.”
Upon hearing this, the envoys burst into broad smiles.
In fact, he didn’t even need Penris’s troops. He was confident that with just the forces from the six territories, he could easily defeat someone like Amelia.
However, securing enough food to feed them wouldn’t be easy. So, he was planning to sweet-talk Ghislaine, even if it meant conceding the best land.
But if Ghislaine was offering food first, there was no need to feign kindness.
“Heh, the rookie is afraid of Raybold’s reputation.”
“That only works when Count Raybold and his heirs are doing well. What’s so scary about an army led by a mere girl?”
“We’re not directly participating in the war, so we can just discuss among ourselves about the best land and take what’s suitable as compensation.”
The envoys who received Ghislaine’s promise returned with joy. Since the preparations for war were almost complete, they planned to move as soon as they received the food.
After sending the envoys back, Ghislaine fell into deep thought again.
“I can only hope those guys stall for as long as possible until I’m ready.”
After all, they couldn’t win. Amelia couldn’t have missed predicting this situation.
In his previous life, while at war with Baron Valua, there were those who tried to ambush Amelia, but no one succeeded.
If he got involved, the outcome could change, but right now, he couldn’t act.
“Not much time left.”
Everything was unfolding faster than it had in his previous life because of him. This meant the civil war wouldn’t be far off.
The fact that Count Desmond was gathering troops was proof of that. Therefore, he couldn’t waste his strength fighting Amelia right now.
He needed to buy as much time as possible and finish preparations to his desired level. Amelia could be dealt with afterward.
“Until then, I must ensure she can’t play any tricks.”
She was a woman skilled at stabbing from the shadows. That was why he was supporting Baron Valua and other territories to make her struggle. It would reduce her options.
“Just wait a little longer, Harold.”
Everything was falling into place as he desired. Now, only one confrontation with Count Desmond remained.
“Because of me, everything in the North is tangled, so the Duke’s Faction and Harold won’t just sit back.”
If a civil war broke out, Desmond would definitely aim for this place first. Now, the strongest Crown Prince Faction in the North was him.
Still, there was a little time left. In the previous life, the Duke hadn’t even begun a civil war in the North.
Even if a civil war started in the North, the Kingdom Army was monitoring the Desmond Territory, so a sudden attack wouldn’t happen.
He needed to finish all preparations during this brief lull. If he did that, he could push Desmond out as soon as the civil war began.
“I’ll be the first to kill him once the civil war starts.”
When that thought crossed his mind, Ghislaine’s heart began to race.
While the Duke’s Faction was the root cause, ultimately, it was Count Desmond who directly caused Perdium’s destruction.
In his previous life, he couldn’t even count how many times he had desecrated Desmond’s corpse. Ghislaine had vented tremendous rage to the point her retainers had to stop her.
Regardless of the Perdium’s downfall, he and Count Desmond were bound to clash. To conquer the North, he absolutely had to kill that guy.
“Not much time left. If I finish my preparations as planned, I can achieve overwhelming victory.”
Thus, Ghislaine diligently focused on preparing for war and training the troops.
And not long after, one day.
While Ghislaine was holding a meeting with her retainers, a messenger rushed in, shouting urgently.
“Count Desmond is raising an army! They are marching towards here!”
“Marching forward!”
Ghislaine’s face hardened. The preparations on their side were still not fully complete.
‘That guy… has already moved?’
There was no activity from the Duke Faction. That guy, who had been acting with utmost caution and only following the Duke’s orders, was now moving on his own.
And right under the watch of the Kingdom Army, no less.
For the first time since his regression.
An event occurred that shook the board Ghislaine had set up.
*
“Hurry up! Quick! Count Desmond is moving his army!”
The commander of the 2nd Corps, Baron Dorren, who had been jolted awake by the news late at night, hurriedly ordered his troops to move.
Their destination was a different position than the route where Ghislaine had previously intercepted Count Cabaldy’s attack. He had to move ahead and set up a blockade. That was the mission he had received.
‘What the hell… what’s going on right now?’
Baron Dorren could hardly make sense of it all. There had been no communication whatsoever. Not even a justification for starting a war.
Count Desmond had unilaterally raised his army and began advancing towards Penris.
A behavior utterly lacking any sense of noble dignity.
But precisely because of that, Baron Dorren felt even more terrified.
The Great Lord, hailed as the strongest in the North, threw away such dignity? It meant that he would stop at nothing.
Baron Dorren turned to his deputy beside him and asked,
“You said their speed wasn’t that fast, right? Are they just slowly going to make a show of force at Penris? I hope that’s all it is!”
“It doesn’t seem like they’re just going for a show of force.”
“Why not?”
“They have 30,000 troops. That’s why they’re slow.”
“…Oh.”
Baron Dorren momentarily went numb. Was that even a reasonable number? No matter how great the lord was, could he really gather that many soldiers?
With an unbelievable number, his knees began to shake.
Soon, shaking off his shock, Baron Dorren shouted in frustration,
“Damn it! How are we supposed to stop 30,000 troops with just the 2nd Corps?”
He had no confidence in winning a close fight. Desmond’s Army was made up of the strongest soldiers in the North.
At least the 5,000 soldiers who had returned from road construction were there. That number could wipe out most ordinary northern lords, but against 30,000? No chance.
“I really hope this will go smoothly. There must be something he wants.”
Orders had been given to inspect and prepare the army in case of civil war. But there hadn’t been any news from elsewhere.
This meant that Count Desmond was acting alone. Baron Dorren was hopeful about that.
“He can’t possibly be thinking of fighting the Crown Prince Faction alone. Even if he occupies Penris, wouldn’t we just retaliate and take it back later? There must have been some misunderstanding. Right?”
“……”
Even as Baron Dorren continued to throw out optimistic questions, his deputy had no words.
To be honest, the deputy was just as clueless about the situation.
“Ugh! Just hurry up! Since we’re a large army, we’re slow, but we can set up the blockade first. Then I’ll have a cup of tea and ask what’s bothering him. Just tell me what’s wrong! I’m here to listen!”
Baron Dorren kept chattering while moving. His anxiety was that significant.
Thud thud thud thud!
The sound of hooves echoed from afar. Upon hearing that, Baron Dorren felt a strange foreboding.
“Why does it sound like the cavalry are charging at full speed?”
Over half of the 2nd Corps was infantry. They were moving quickly, but they couldn’t match the speed of cavalry on a full out charge.
So the cavalry too were supposed to be moving at the infantry’s pace. There was no way they should be making the noise of a full-speed charge.
Thud thud thud thud!
Baron Dorren was a commander of the Kingdom Army. He was not a fool unaware of what this situation implied.
“It’s an ambush! Everyone, get ready for combat!”
At his shout, the soldiers immediately formed their battle lines. Truly, it was a swift maneuver worthy of the elite Kingdom Army.
Dududududu!
The sound of hooves grew closer. But the sound was coming from multiple directions.
“W-what is this…?”
Suddenly, sounds came from behind as well. That meant they had moved in staggered timing.
‘They set up their formation after hearing the first sound and then launched an ambush from behind…’
Dududududu!
Soon, the sound of hooves could be heard from the side as well. Baron Dorren’s eyebrows twitched.
Traveling at night, he couldn’t properly assess the surroundings. The enemy had cleverly exploited this.
Baron Dorren quickly grasped the situation and devised a countermeasure.
“Put out the lights! Darken the area to lead them into chaos!”
All the lights in the vicinity were extinguished. The first charge was inevitable, but due to the nature of cavalry, after that, the enemy would struggle to maintain direction in the ensuing chaos.
There was no other choice at the moment.
“Damn it… why is it so bright tonight?”
But Baron Dorren was out of luck. The moonlight was too bright. And it seemed the enemy had predicted how Baron Dorren would respond.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, countless lights burst from one side. They numbered nearly a thousand.
Baron Dorren stared at it in disbelief, murmurings escaping his lips.
“So they had an ambush too…”
The enemy was serious. They truly aimed to crush the Kingdom Army and assault Penris.
Boom!
Countless flaming arrows began to rain down upon the Kingdom Army.
Gazing at the lights filling the sky, Baron Dorren muttered,
“Count Desmond must be insane.”
He could say no more. The fire arrows poured down mercilessly.
Papatapatapak!
“Aaaagh!”
The unexpected attack left the soldiers of the 2nd Corps defenseless, crashing down as they were on the move. There was simply no way to defend themselves adequately.
He never expected the enemy to come at them like this without any proper notice.
To think someone would dare to fight the Crown Prince Faction alone. No one in the Kingdom would do such a thing. Therefore, the only conclusion was that Count Desmond had truly lost his mind.
Dududududu!
Fires erupted everywhere, illuminating the surroundings brightly. The sound of hooves grew louder.
Cavalry charged into the chaotic formation of the 2nd Corps from all directions.
Crash!
“AAAGH!”
“Quick! Regroup!”
“Lure them into chaos somehow!”
Officers of the 2nd Corps shouted, but it was of no use. Desmond’s Army effortlessly swept aside the so-called strong 2nd Corps.
Baron Dorren had no choice but to acknowledge it.
“Impressive… so this is Count Desmond.”
They had anticipated when, how, and where the 2nd Corps would move, and had prepared accordingly.
Even the main force was still plodding towards Penris.
The initial intel stated that the cavalry was part of the main force. It meant they maneuvered away quickly and successfully executed a flanking ambush at just the right moment.
There was indeed one commander in Desmond’s ranks capable of such tactics. The one known as a master of mobile warfare from the North.
“Emerson.”
He was the one who had failed to support Cabaldy when Baron Dorren blocked the way previously. If he had moved, it made perfect sense.
“Looks like… there will be no surrender offered.”
He must have been harboring a grudge from that incident.
Indeed, Emerson came charging at him with a ghastly grin, like an evil spirit.
“Baron Dorren!”
Upon hearing Emerson’s shout, Baron Dorren sighed and raised his sword. It seemed he wouldn’t be returning alive today.
He had long since given up on his life.
However…
“What am I going to do about my daughter’s academy tuition now…?”
That was the only remaining worry on his mind.
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