Chapter 365
Side Story – Memories of an Imperial Princess (81)Â
#101 Their Circumstances: The Circumstances of the Merdea Kingdom
Bang!
“How did this happen!”
No one could answer King Graide’s question as his face turned red.
It was a crushing defeat, a crushing defeat.
In the Empire, Duke Raisha suffered a major defeat and lost several border territories. Fortunately, Duke Raisha demonstrated his wit by retreating to Fort Mebelis and subsequently managed to tie down the Imperial army’s movements, but the problem lay with the border with the Raiko Kingdom.
“No one noticed until the Imperial army reached the Raiko Kingdom!”
The Empire’s First Prince had negotiated with the Raiko Kingdom, and together they crossed the border, advancing unstoppably.
Already, all the fortresses along the border with the Raiko Kingdom had been captured, and if time continued to pass this way, it wouldn’t take long for the combined forces of the Empire and Raiko Kingdom to advance to the capital of the Merdea Kingdom.
“How many troops have we gathered?”
Looking at the silent nobles, King Graide sighed and spoke to the Royal fortress Defense Commander.
“30,000, Your Majesty.”
At the Defense Commander’s words as he bowed his head, King Graide felt darkness descend before his eyes.
“Only 30,000…”
This was the number of soldiers drafted from the capital Merdea and the surrounding major territories.
Normally, they could conscript close to 100,000 soldiers, but they were experiencing difficulties as they had already conducted recruitment to support Duke Raisha.
“Even then, these are people who haven’t received proper training.”
“Alas…”
Not only were the numbers small, but the remaining personnel were untrained.
Though they were hurriedly providing training, there was no reason for the Imperial army to wait. Rather, it would be fortunate if they didn’t increase their speed to arrive before the training was complete.
“Have the great gods abandoned the Merdea Kingdom…”
None of the nobles could speak at King Graide’s words.
“What should we do?”
King Graide had aged ten years in just a few days. With a haggard face from all the worry, he posed a meaningless question to the nobles.
“We must gather troops to defend the capital.”
“No, Your Majesty. Fighting in the capital is unfavorable in many ways. Rather, we should form a defensive army to block the path to the Royal fortress and fight to the death.”
“No, Your Majesty. If the enemy advances straight to the Royal fortress, we should block them at the fortress while organizing separate units from the remaining territories to cut off the enemy’s supply lines.”
“Your Majesty! Or perhaps this method…”
The nobles began to offer all sorts of suggestions, but they weren’t particularly valuable.
It was a meeting missing all the major nobles anyway. Most high-ranking nobles had returned to their territories to gather troops or defend against the advancing Imperial forces.
“The same words keep repeating.”
King Graide, his eyes growing heavy from excessive fatigue, muttered quietly while pressing around his eyes with his raised hand.
“Is there really no solution?”
Just as King Graide was about to give up,
“There still is one, Your Majesty.”
“Prince Vaeis!”
A clear voice rang out.
The owner of that voice was this country’s crown prince, or more precisely, the former crown prince Vaeis.
“You, you’re alive!”
All sorts of emotions crossed King Graide’s eyes.
How shocked he had been when he first heard that Vaeis, who had stepped up as a lowest-ranking officer after Duke Raisha’s forces were annihilated, had gone missing!
Though it was wartime, and he had to maintain a cool facade as the king of a nation to avoid showing weakness, blood ties were blood ties.
King Graide couldn’t even sleep properly after hearing about Vaeis’s disappearance.
Perhaps he had made the wrong decision?
Had he driven his precious son to his death?
Such worries kept him from sleeping.
When he barely managed to fall asleep, the image of Vaeis resenting him would appear in his dreams, causing him to wake up quickly.
Was he resenting him in death?
Had he really died?
And now, as King Graide was pondering these concerns, Vaeis appeared before his eyes!
“You, you’re alive.”
He wanted to rush out and embrace him right now, but he had to be mindful of the nobles’ gazes. Though he was trying to maintain a cool demeanor, his reddened eyes and trembling voice revealed just how happy he was.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
At the sight of King Graide like that, Vaeis lowered his head and thought.
‘Yes, he is still my father after all.’
Initially, when his Crown Prince position was taken away and he was sent to Duke Raisha, Vaeis had harbored much resentment and anger towards King Graide.
However, as time passed, that resentment and anger became an opportunity for self-reflection.
Watching Duke Raisha hold out in the middle of enemy forces with barely 30,000 troops, he realized what an exceptional general he was. The moment he acknowledged this, he could also understand what a momentous decision his father had made.
By abandoning him, he united the nobles and strengthened military discipline.
Look. Even the Crown Prince, who could be the next king, fell like this for breaking the law.
Even royalty must obey military law, and it must not be violated!
“I have a way, Your Majesty.”
Vaeis had grown.
While some fall to the bottom and either have their wings broken never to rise again or become accustomed to the bottom and degenerate, Vaeis prepared to soar again while looking up at the sky from the bottom.
If they manage to protect the Kingdom of Merdea and he inherits the throne, the Kingdom of Merdea will enjoy a golden age with Vaeis as a wise king.
“You have a way?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. First, we must call Grand General Raisha to the capital.”
While it was true that Fort Mebelis was the greatest fortress, it was a border fortress.
The naturally defensive terrain meant it was difficult for allies to escape or receive support. While it was the best fortress for blocking enemy forces, it also meant it was easily isolated if the enemy didn’t attack.
“Abandon Fort Mebelis? What if the enemy forces join together?”
“General Bagrain remains by Grand General Raisha’s side. If we provide him with 20,000 troops, he should be able to hold against the Imperial army.”
“Hmm…”
General Bagrain was the one who had caused Vaeis to lose his Crown Prince position.
While his skills were renowned, it was a significant decision to trust and utilize someone with whom he had bad blood.
‘You have grown.’
Choosing the kingdom over personal grudges. Though he lost his Crown Prince position, it meant he had succeeded in becoming an even greater vessel than when he was Crown Prince.
“If Grand General Raisha comes with at least 30,000 troops in support, we can certainly hold out.”
The Merdean Royal fortress is a fortress no less formidable than Fort Mebelis. With enough soldiers, they could definitely defend it.
If they could hold out, the enemy forces that entered the kingdom could actually be at a disadvantage.
This is the Kingdom of Merdea. All the kingdom’s people will reject the Imperial army.
As time passes, just as the Kingdom of Raiko aided the Empire, they could receive help from neighboring kingdoms that are hostile to the Empire and friendly to the kingdom.
If they could eliminate all the Imperial and Raiko Kingdom forces that entered the kingdom, they might even be able to occupy the Kingdom of Raiko, and the newly recruited soldiers would become seasoned troops.
They just need to hold out. Just hold out.
The Empire’s enemy isn’t just the Kingdom of Merdea. Their greatest enemy, the Pernes Empire, is still intact!
Time is on our side. If we just hold out, opportunities will come again!
“The winner of a battle isn’t necessarily the winner of the war. We have lost. But the great war isn’t over yet.”
Seeing Vaeis looking at him with an unwavering gaze, King Graide nodded.
“Does anyone have a better opinion than this!”
No noble answered his voice.
“Then as Vaeis suggests, we will call Grand General Raisha here.”
“Understood, Your Majesty.”
After hearing the nobles’ response, King Graide looked at Vaeis for a moment.
And then,
“Also, when this war ends, I intend to step down from the throne. The next king will be Vaeis Ral Merdea!”
“Your Majesty!”
Cries like screams were heard from all around, but King Graide did not take back his words.
“Your Majesty.”
“You’ve worked hard until now. And continue to work hard from here on.”
Vaeis began to experience a mix of emotions as he saw King Graide looking at him with eyes full of trust.
What should I answer?
“I will obey your command, Your Majesty.”
After much contemplation, Vaeis bowed his head and respectfully replied that he would obey the command.
‘This is just the beginning.’
When I gave up what I thought was big, I gained something even bigger.
Although it was a very short time, Vaeis was able to realize many things.
‘Now if we can just stop the Empire’s invasion with General Raisha!’
I will become a great king. I will create the golden age of the Kingdom of Merdea!
“Wh-what did you say!”
However, all those determinations turned into bubbles after the messenger’s words that arrived shortly after.
“Ge-General Raisha says he will not send troops!”
“Wh-what?”
What nonsense is this.
Even for someone with the position of Grand General, disobeying the king’s command is equivalent to treason.
“Additionally…”
“What else is there!”
The messenger trembled at the outcry of Vaeis, the Crown Prince, no, the confirmed next king.
Saying this would be terrible. But it’s something that must be said.
Like activating a magic circle in front of an exploding magic circle, the messenger closed his eyes tightly and spoke exactly what he had heard.
“General Raisha has… Used his position as Grand General to mobilize all soldiers near Fort Mebelis and gathered them at Fort Mebelis.”
“Wh-what?”
The border region near Mebelis was not a favorable terrain for human habitation. The land was barren and unsuitable for farming, and it was very difficult to go outside the fortress walls alone due to goblins, orcs, and occasionally appearing ogres.
It’s no wonder there’s a rumor that carriage drivers in the border region must have at least knight-level skills. That’s how dangerous and uninhabitable the border cities, including Mebelis, were.
And to adapt to such an environment, the people there were more likely to carry spears, shields, and bows rather than farming tools.
Since they were border guards, food was supported from the central government, and they could earn good money if they defeated monsters during occasional training, so there were few complaints. That’s why the border region was the most reliable place to create troops in urgent situations like this!
“Ho-how many did he take!”
Soldiers recruited from the capital or farming regions won’t help. The true strength lay with the people living in the border regions or similarly threatened areas.
Small in number but the strongest fighting force!
About to lose this force, Vaeis gritted his teeth and shouted at the messenger.
“What on earth does this mean! Are you saying Grand General Raisha is disobeying the king’s command and gathering border region soldiers?”
“Y-yes, that’s correct.”
Why on earth?
While wanting to shout that, Crown Prince Vaeis realized he was excited and began to calm his mind.
‘Grand General Raisha must have his reasons.’
Let’s think about what he might be thinking.
After calming down, Vaeis closed his eyes and started thinking about various possibilities, imagining himself as Duke Raisha.
‘Is he planning to gather troops at Fort Mebelis and come out? No. That place isn’t suitable for deploying large forces. It’s a fortress for stopping many enemies with few troops, the fortress is too small to gather many soldiers. It would be better to gather at a nearby fortress of proper size.’
Then why? Was there something he hadn’t seen?
Because he truly believed in Grand General Raisha, Vaeis thought many things but couldn’t figure out his intentions.
“Damn…”
He could only trust him.
He was the hero and General of the Kingdom of Merdea! General Raisha!
#102 Their Circumstances : Circumstances Of A Certain General
“Good.”
Looking at the soldiers crowding inside the fortress, Duke Raisha, the hero and General of the Kingdom of Merdea, smiled with satisfaction.
“This should be enough to protect me.”
Although Duke Raisha was trusted by everyone in the kingdom, he had no intention of saving the country.
“First, I need to be safe. Surely it won’t fall?”
Because he thought someone else would save the country!
