Chapter 375
Side Story – Memories of an Imperial Princess (91)
Princess POV
“It’s over.”
“It’s over.”
“Shall we go home now?”
After the negotiations with the Kingdom of Merdea ended.
Unlike the soldiers organizing supplies and commanders organizing documents, we had nothing to do.
“The ancient sages said this: Leaving home is hardship! I’m tired of hard beds now. I want to sleep comfortably in the imperial palace’s finest bed!”
And once there was nothing left to do, Ast began insisting on returning to the imperial palace.
“Lord Ast…”
“Sir Ria’s revenge is complete, so there’s no reason to continue the war, is there?”
It was true.
Though there were various reasons, I had told Ast it was for Ria’s revenge.
Not only did we crush the Kingdom of Merdea who killed Ria’s fiancĂ©, but we also rotted their roots so they could never rise again.
“To completely destroy the Kingdom of Merdea, we even revived the Duke Raisha family.”
Duke Raisha is harmful just by existing.
Despite my brother’s furious protests saying we must kill him, I ignored that and let him live and return.
And I even gave him more power while doing so.
“The Kingdom of Merdea probably thought it wouldn’t matter even if he was a duke, if all the nobles ignored him. Who would like a traitor of the kingdom even if the Duke Raisha family was revived?”
“Yes, normally that would be true.”
Ast attached all the nobles who betrayed the kingdom to Duke Raisha.
As all the plans had been prepared long ago, the number of nobles who betrayed the kingdom and became pro-empire was significant.
Of course, some might change their minds, but the fear etched into their bodies won’t change.
“Those who have already experienced both carrot and stick cannot betray us. As long as the empire doesn’t weaken, they cannot refuse us.”
Ast didn’t just put shackles on them.
He promised them some benefits they would receive from the kingdom, and also promised to take territories from their enemies regarding land.
“The stronger the empire becomes, the stronger their influence will grow within the kingdom.”
“Yes. To the point where anyone can notice.”
But the royal family won’t be able to punish them.
After negotiations began, Ast rapidly increased the pace of torture.
Since negotiations had started, they would have to be returned alive if successful, and if failed there was no point in keeping them alive.
The torture was already harsh. When the level increased, torture became massacre.
Many didn’t survive even an hour.
Though a few barely endured, Ast ordered them all killed before entering renegotiations.
As a result, about 80 percent of the captured nobles were dead.
That means more than half of the Kingdom of Merdea’s nobles were dead.
“The weakness of a great power.”
Having vast territory means, conversely, there are many places to defend.
Saying all land except the royal palace was occupied means, conversely, all the nobles defending the lands were either dead or captured.
“Yes. And with such large territory, many administrative personnel are needed.”
Though they’ll lose some territory as the defeated nation, it won’t be more than half the kingdom.
With the current lack of personnel, they have no choice but to accept help from the betraying nobles for quick recovery.
“And they can’t kill them because of Geas Roll.”
“That’s right, Sir Ria.”
There was another trap in Geas Roll.
If noticed, even Ria could understand, but if not noticed, they would have no choice but to fall for it.
“Not being able to touch the Duke Raisha family means they also can’t touch the noble vassals under him.”
The Duke Raisha family was enormous.
It was so enormous that it maintained its position as the greatest family even with that foolish Duke Raisha as head.
But after Duke Raisha’s betrayal.
The current king purged not only the Duke Raisha family but all nobles connected to him before falling.
As a result, the foundation of the Duke Raisha family was shattered.
The Kingdom of Merdea probably accepted our conditions thinking that even if the Duke Raisha family was restored to its original state, there was no one who could rebuild it.
“Duke Raisha is essentially the leader of the pro-empire faction we created. It’s natural for those we persuaded to become his vassals.”
But Ast had anticipated even this and proceeded accordingly.
He put Duke Raisha in charge of the Kingdom of Merdea’s pro-empire faction and told those persuaded to support Duke Raisha.
A traitor to the country gained support from about half of the surviving nobles in key positions.
“It will be a mess.”
Just Duke Raisha being alive would lower the pride of the Merdean royal family.
A traitor who not only betrayed but raised his sword against them now has power rivaling the royal family.
Additionally, Duke Raisha was once a hero of the kingdom.
Even though he betrayed his country and tried to build his own kingdom, rumors persisted that there must have been something behind it.
Especially outside the royal palace, since the empire’s occupation, rumors strongly spread that the royal family tried to kill them because they feared Duke Raisha growing too powerful.
Of course, these were rumors deliberately spread by Ast.
“Yes. It will be a mess.”
“Since Lord Ast did it, it will surely be a mess.”
“Since Ast did it, we’ll be lucky if it just ends as a mess.”
“It’s strange that my name keeps coming up, but well, it being a mess is true so I’ll let it slide.”
Ast grumbled that they should now return to the Imperial Palace.
However, however.
“Unfortunately, the next destination has been decided.”
“…It’s the Imperial Palace, right? Isn’t it?”
“Wrong. The next battlefront has been decided.”
“Why?”
Ast looked at me with eyes asking why I was doing this to him… But honestly, this is all Ast’s fault.
“After establishing such military achievements and having almost no military casualties, how could the Imperial Palace just leave us be?”
Everything was because of the military achievements Ast had established.
We defeated a powerful enemy like the Kingdom of Merdea, yet our army suffered no losses.
If we had suffered some damage, we could at least request time for military reorganization.
The units that suffered major damage were older brother’s and little brother’s units.
And even those two units were quickly recovering their forces and receiving support, as the scale of the war was growing enough to participate.
“The Kingdom of Raiko is under attack from other kingdoms because they supported us. The Pernes Empire is also having difficulties because they provided quite a bit of support.”
“Uh… Are you saying that’s my fault?”
“It’s not your fault. The Kingdom of Raiko got what they wanted too.”
20 percent of the Merdean territory acquired this time will be transferred to the Kingdom of Raiko.
Also, because they participated in the war, they will receive tribute from the Kingdom of Merdea as victors.
They must bear the cost of that.
“But when an allied nation requests support, we can’t refuse, right?”
“Why us?”
“Well that’s…”
“As His Majesty said, it’s because you fought too well, Lord Ast.”
If we hadn’t shown up, it might have been different.
But after showing up and achieving such military merits, it’s impossible to return easily while the war is in full swing.
Well, it’s not impossible, but then both I and the Imperial Palace would become very troubled.
And…
“You’re lying, right? Aren’t you, Your Highness?”
As always, seeing Ast flustered like this is very rare.
Who would think this person was the general who drove Merdea into the abyss of evil?
“It can’t be helped. It’s all Ast’s fault.”
So it can’t be helped.
For my sake, for the Empire’s sake, and furthermore, for the continent’s sake.
Because if only Ast is sacrificed, everyone can be happy.
#118 Their Circumstances: The Circumstances of a Certain Villain
“Wow, life…”
If someone works like a dog, you should let them rest.
This isn’t like loading and unloading packages, working like a dog and having to work like a dog again without any rest time.
Isn’t this too much?
“I really should quit.”
I need to write a report to send to the organization, but the moment I send it, it’s certain my mission period will be extended.
“Ah, really…”
I want to just lie, but I can’t ignore the organization’s intelligence capabilities.
Unless it’s something only a very few people including the Imperial Princess know about, Howling isn’t stupid enough to not know about large-scale military movements.
“Why did my life become so complicated…”
Tears start to blur my vision.
I just want to live comfortably… I don’t want to live this difficulty…!
“Damn it!”
But what can I do?
When they say do it, it’s my fate to do it.
After writing about the withdrawal from the Kingdom of Merdea, I started writing about how we might head to the Kingdom of Raiko soon, and how the Karan Empire might seriously clash with the Pernes Empire.
Knock knock.
“Lord Ast, are you in there?”
Then, along with the sound of knocking on the wooden board attached to the tent, Sir Ria’s voice was heard.
Without panicking like an amateur, I hide the folded report in my chest and put the pen in the ink bottle on the desk.
The ink on the report might smear a little… But the Intelligence Department will interpret it well.
Then, slightly altering my voice to act as if I just woke up, I answer.
“What is it, Sir Ria?”
“Were you sleeping?”
“I dozed off briefly. What’s the matter?”
“Yes. It seems you need to go see Her Highness for a moment.”
“Understood.”
After neatly adjusting my clothes, I got up and left the tent.
“Do you know what this is about?”
“Yes… What?”
It was a casual question thrown while moving to the Princess’s quarters with Sir Ria, but Sir Ria’s reaction was unusual.
“I, I don’t know.”
“It seems like you do know.”
“I, I really don’t know. So please ask Her Highness directly.”
After saying that, she quickly left the scene, but there was an ominous feeling creeping throughout my body.
“What is this?”
An unpleasant atmosphere.
It feels like I should prepare to run away at any moment.
“What’s going on? Could it be that the Princess and Sir Ria are returning while I alone participate in the war?”
It was a sudden thought, but somehow it seemed possible.
According to Imperial rumors, when the Princess caused an uproar about going to war, the emperor stopped her.
Now that she’s talking about going to war again, they might dump that responsibility on me.
Sir Ria is her personal guard so she’ll follow Her Highness… And I’m just a butler who’s dispensable!
Plus, they’ve used me as a general before, and I had results!
“There’s, there’s no way out of this.”
This is it! This must be it!
Anticipating the worst situation, I walked slowly, contemplating how to escape this situation.
âI must absolutely stick to her.â
There’s only one way.
I must definitely return with the Princess!
First of all, my relationship with the Princess isn’t that bad, and she’s already addicted to my tea-making skills, so if I stick close enough, she might take me along.
Right, we have so many capable fighters in our army.
Why would they entrust the army to an incompetent person like me!
We’re not like the Kingdom of Merdea, lacking in talent!
“Alright! Let’s go.”
Having made up my mind, I entered the Princess’s quarters thinking of numerous ways to persuade her.
“Why are you so late?”
“Sir Ria was simply too fast.”
“Ahem.”
When I spoke while looking at her, Sir Ria turned her head away to avoid my gaze.
“Well, that doesn’t matter. First, we just received formal orders from the Imperial court. Our army will support the Kingdom of Raiko, and furthermore, we plan to strike the Pernes Empire.”
As expected, it was just as I predicted. Now she’ll say she’s stepping back and ask me to take good care of the army!
“So, I’ll be counting on you in the future…”
“Your Highness…”
I tried to cut off what the Princess was about to say and convince her to take me along before she could speak, but.
“Count Ast.”
“…Your Highness?”
Due to the Princess speaking first, I had no choice but to close my mouth.
“This isn’t a joke, it’s an official document.”
“Uh…?”
She rose from her seat and handed me an elegant command letter.
“Uh… Uh…?”
In it was written nonsense about recognizing my achievements and appointing me as an honorable Count of the empire, with the emperor’s seal stamped beside it.
“What… Is this?”
As I held the command letter with trembling hands and looked up with shaking eyes, the Princess shrugged her shoulders and maintained an indifferent expression.
“This time, I didn’t do anything. It’s just that your military achievements became impossible to ignore.”
Count, becoming a Count!
The worst situation was becoming the sole commander, but things had gotten even worse than that.
“And you know, Ast.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
My mind went completely blank.
I seemed to hear what the Princess was saying, but it wasn’t registering in my blank mind.
However, the very last, the final words were clearly heard.
Because in my blank mind, I could clearly see a black chess piece approaching.
“So, Ast, do you really want to?”
“Want to what?”
A black knight approached my king standing on the pure white ground and shouted.
‘Checkmate!’
“Marriage.”
The moment I heard those words, I could instantly organize my blank mind.
Yes, right. Without thinking…
Let’s just run away.
