After Archbishop Maxim stepped out of the military tent, Commander Mansfeld and Christian were left alone together.
The two remained seated, gazing into each other’s faces as they began discussing their plans moving forward.
“So… what do you intend to do next, Commander Mansfeld?”
“If what that girl said is true, then it means we won’t have to worry about them targeting us for a while, right? If that’s the case, we can proceed with our original plans.”
According to Archbishop Maxim’s revelations about the current Emperor’s army, it seemed almost 100% likely that they would remain in Palatinate for some time without trying to track them down.
As Spinola was responsible for defending Palatinate, they couldn’t carelessly leave it, and General Tilly, having suffered a previous defeat in the last battle, was also wary of reckless attacks.
On top of that, due to losses incurred from the latest battle, their already insufficient food supplies had taken a significant hit, making an attack on a force as uncertain as theirs quite unwise.
Considering all this, it could be said that Mansfeld and Christian’s army had the green light to proceed without major issues in their plan…
to wipe out the lords located in the northern region of Palatinate.
“Heh, I see. I think the same. It seems like this is a blessing for our future,”
“Haha, is that so? In my opinion, it’s not the power of God; it’s simply because your strategy is outstanding.”
“Too kind of you. I owe it all to Commander Mansfeld for trusting me and acting; all I did was lend a bit of help.”
With those words, Christian looked at Mansfeld with a bright smile.
As she did so, Mansfeld began to feel his heart race a little faster.
‘Indeed. The more I see her, the more I think she’s the perfect match for me. Her face might be just ordinary, but… after all, not all women are defined by their looks.’
A cunning person, skilled at using others to her advantage.
Moreover, she seemed to relish in the madness of having others sacrificed for her own gain, reaching a point where such dealings became enjoyable for her.
To an ordinary person, Christian’s traits would evoke discomfort and disgust.
Yet…
In this moment, as he met her gaze, Mansfeld was different.
For him, the way this woman in front of him conducted herself…
Although somewhat twisted, it was precisely this indifference to others and living solely for herself that represented the life he had always pursued.
And for Mansfeld, this moment was pulling his heartstrings more powerfully than anyone he had ever met before.
Realizing this, Mansfeld kept his intense gaze on Christian without looking away.
Meanwhile, whether she knew of his state or not, Christian stood up with a smile and said,
“Well then, I suppose it’s time for us to get going. With the urgent matters resolved, we should enjoy ourselves a bit, shouldn’t we?”
Having said that, Christian was about to step outside the tent.
At that moment…
“…”
The next instant, Christian halted in her tracks, slowly turning her gaze to the person grasping her wrist.
“…Yeah… It certainly seems like we should enjoy ourselves a bit.”
As she said this, a serious smile began to form on Mansfeld’s lips.
And…
Understanding what that meant, Christian slowly turned to face the person holding her wrist.
“Heh… But are you sure you want to? I’m not exactly an attractive woman to be with.”
She asked with a smile, knowing she wasn’t the prettiest to look at, seeking confirmation from Mansfeld.
In response to her words, Mansfeld slowly…
Caressed her face, speaking softly.
“At least in my eyes, that’s not true. Right now, at this moment, you are the most beautiful person I have ever seen.”
“…You flatter me.”
“It’s the truth. And… I will prove it to you from now on.”
“!…”
With that, Mansfeld embraced Christian tightly.
For a moment, Christian slightly frowned in surprise…
But soon after, she broke into a relaxed smile and whispered sweetly into Mansfeld’s ear.
“Well then… Please show me what’s in your heart. Prove it to me.”
“…Willingly.”
And with that, Mansfeld began kissing Christian passionately.
Captivated, Christian surrendered to the bliss, diving into the kiss as…
The two, locked in each other’s arms, started heading towards the bed situated in the corner of the military tent.
“I’ve been looking for a woman like you for a long time.”
“Heh, to be honest, I feel the same…”
Thus began their “feast.”
It only ended when the first light of dawn broke, and the soldiers had drunkenly passed out.
*
In a fairly large tent typically assigned to officers, Archbishop Maxim was mindlessly shoveling food into her mouth.
Just this morning, she was barely surviving on hard bread scraps due to being a prisoner…
Now, seated before a spread of soft, fresh bread, mouthwatering meat, and goblets of wine, she felt an immense satisfaction.
“Hehehe… They say you must be patient in life, and they were right! Who knew that after being treated like a beast just this morning, I would be receiving such a grand welcome?”
As she indulged in the splendid food for the first time in a while, Maxim recalled just moments ago when she spilled secrets that could potentially put not only the Emperor’s army in danger but also her own paladins.
From military formations to future operations plans, and even the lack of resources… she had revealed it all.
Although Mansfeld had moved away from Palatinate to reach this place, the circumstances meant that Mansfeld’s army might be able to ambush the Emperor’s army again.
In a worst-case scenario, it could be said that she had provided information that could lead to the destruction of both the Emperor’s army and the paladins.
However,
Despite it all, she didn’t feel the slightest pang of guilt for what had transpired.
“After all, in this world, the survivor wins. Whether it’s Mansfeld or the Emperor’s army, it’s wise to stick with the winners, you see. Hehe… I don’t know what Mansfeld will do next, but if he wins thanks to the information I dropped, he’ll likely reward me, right?”
Of course, there was a possibility that Mansfeld could fail, and she could be seen as a traitor. In that case, she would simply claim that she had no choice but to yield under their threats and tortures.
So… relishing the results of her “appropriate” betrayal, Maxim savored a drink, enjoying the situation.
*
The Emperor’s army was moving north at a rapid pace.
Despite the poor logistics, their speed was remarkably fast.
Unlike Mansfeld’s troops, heavily laden with spoils and forced to march slowly, they were relatively light due to slightly insufficient supplies and arms.
And as Tilly and Spinola’s forces marched briskly, they crossed the borders of Palatinate, continuing their northward advance as if they knew precisely where their enemies lay.
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