Chapter 103 - Chapter 103: To the Imperial City
Due to Steve's exploits, the Imperial Army that had been applying pressure near the Kingdom of Forest border was wiped out. It was still unknown whether there were movements for additional troop deployments, but for now, no additional soldiers were being sent. With this, the operation entered the next phase.
It was an invasion of the Empire by the Kingdom of Cascade's national army and the Western Noble Alliance. However, since it was an invasion carried out with Louis, plundering was strictly forbidden.
Separately, an attack on the Imperial Capital by Steve and Cecily was planned. Since Cecily could not go to the Royal Capital, the King and the Chancellor came to Sowell Land, making it a meeting there. At the meeting place were the King and the Chancellor, Louis, Aurora, Steve, Cecily, and Daphne.
Everyone sat around the round table, and in the center was the King.
The King looked around at everyone and said.
"Separate from the usual invasion, we will hold a meeting regarding a surprise attack on the Imperial City. The target is the head of the one claiming to be the Emperor. Like the wars until now, a surprise attack on the Imperial City by Lord Archibalt alone, taking down the enemy leader in one go."
"Forgive me, Your Majesty, but will it go so easily?"
Aurora looked at the King. Due to the plan being too rough, she doubted his sanity.
"Regarding the Imperial City's coordinates, the Ace of Chalice knows them, so teleporting together should pose no problem. Also, half of the Suit Knights, the enemy's main force, have already been lost. Considering Lord Archibalt is the cause of that, I judge it to be sufficiently possible."
As the King said, the Suit Knights were halved. And except for Cecily, everything was done by Steve. In this situation, it wouldn't be strange to think even such an operation would succeed.
However, Aurora was doubting her thoughts, wondering if the King was this short-sighted.
From the King's perspective, with the Suit Knights halved now, if Steve reduced the numbers a bit more, he thought they could win with normal forces. The best scenario was for Steve to trade blows with the enemy under some pretext, and he even thought losing was fine. The most troubling thing was a victory without a scratch.
Aurora had reached that point, but what made opposing difficult was Louis's presence.
"Your Majesty, thank you for the decision on this difficult operation."
"What, I understand the feeling of wanting to avenge your father painfully."
Thus, he expressed gratitude to the King. If it was Louis's wish, Cecily could not oppose. Eventually, the atmosphere became one where opposing the operation was impossible.
The King was not coordinating with Louis, but he was secretly pleased with the timely follow-up.
As for Steve himself, he was worried about the soldiers in his territory, and if possible, he wanted to settle things quickly, so he thought a surprise attack on the Imperial City was fine too.
However, compared to previous enemy nations, the Imperial City's defense was strict. The Wand Knights Order of the Suit Knights was guarding it. Additionally, he had information that the last Suit Knights Pentacle Knights Order was hunting escaped royals under Leonard's orders.
Steve asked Louis about the Imperial City's defenses.
"I assume there are various traps to repel enemies who infiltrate the Imperial City, please tell me what you know."
"I apologize. That is something only the Emperor knows, so I do not know either. I heard that when I take the throne, I will be told of secret exits or rooms to hide from enemies."
To prevent information leaks, the Imperial City's secrets were taught only to the Emperor by specialized officials. Those officials usually did other work, so it was made so they wouldn't be suspected of knowing the Imperial City's secrets. Therefore, even Louis, who was royalty, did not know. Of course, his father, the Crown Prince, did not either. That was why he couldn't escape.
"However, what I know is that my uncle Leonard also uses magic and has strength comparable to the Suit Knights. I don't know what kind of magic."
"That's troublesome. Can't I drag him before Her Highness?"
"It's fine if you kill him on the spot. I'd like to do it myself, but with my strength, that's impossible too."
"Understood. Also, how many regular soldiers are guarding?"
"I don't think there are two thousand, but not a thousand either. However, with Leonard's coup, it became a battle between the Imperial Army itself, so the numbers have likely decreased."
Louis's prediction was correct. Due to fighting with soldiers who fought to protect the Crown Prince, the number of soldiers had decreased. Even trying to replenish them, due to troop deployment to the east and fighting with the royals, they could not replenish troops in the Imperial Capital.
"The troublesome ones are just the Suit Knights and the Emperor, I suppose."
"Can you do it?"
Asked by the King, Steve nodded.
"I will meet your expectations."
"By the time the children of the next generation grow up, it should be a peaceful country, I hope."
The King chose words to tickle Steve's heart. Seeing Steve's state, which could be called parental love, he calculated that if he said it for the children, he would move happily.
While watching that scene, Aurora was thinking about post-war matters.
It was about her own interests and handling Steve. Somehow, the King's attitude did not seem to cherish Steve. It was so from the beginning, but it was clear it was more than before.
Regarding the marriage between Cecily and Louis, the King probably hasn't found out yet, but before that, an intention to dispose of Steve was faintly visible.
Aurora looked around the round table to read the thoughts of others, and when she saw Cecily boarding the Imperial City with Steve, she wasn't making a stiff face, which she found strange.
"Lady Cromwell, aren't you afraid of boarding the Imperial City directly?"
"I think it's scary, but for Her Highness's sake."
Aurora didn't miss Cecily's eyes swimming for a moment as she answered. Where Cecily's eyes swam was where Steve was sitting.
"For Her Highness's sake" was the surface reason, and she deduced she was expecting to be with Steve. However, she didn't know if that expectation was as a comrade-in-arms or otherwise.
However, Aurora's intuition told her it was love.
In the reports already received, Cecily had always acted together during the battle at the Kingdom of Forest border, so she speculated it was the budding of romantic feelings from sharing life and death in a dangerous battlefield.
"Admired loyalty. How many soldiers in my country have such resolve? Even with Lord Archibalt accompanying, they'd all be scared of danger."
Saying that, she glanced at Daphne.
Daphne easily took the bait of Aurora's provocation.
"Even if I accompany Lord Archibalt to board the Imperial City, I fear nothing to capture or subdue the Emperor suspected of being the mastermind of the attack on Your Majesty."
Aurora raised the corners of her mouth seeing Daphne's attitude. She wondered if Daphne took the bait of which provocation.
Aurora's intended gaze had two targets. Loyalty to master and feelings for Steve.
Probably Daphne also noticed Cecily's feelings for Steve, and she thought she should be concerned about that movement.
And it was true, and Daphne could not stand the fact that only Cecily was boarding the dangerous enemy land with Steve.
She had endured it at the Kingdom of Forest border, but she thought she would be left behind if things continued like this.
But Steve had no such thoughts at all.
At this time, the King and the Chancellor were confused by Daphne's offer.
Considering the relationship with House Stuart, they could not let Daphne board the Imperial City. However, they felt that Daphne's determination did not seem to change.
Handling Daphne, who was bait to make Steve fight actively, had become a trouble for them.
"As expected of the Royal Guard Knights Order Commander. Wonderful loyalty. Your Majesty must be delighted."
"I am deeply moved. However, without Lord Seals, the Royal Guard Knights Order's movements will slow. Why not send Thondike here?"
"Your Majesty, Vice-Commander Thondike cannot match the enemy Suit Knights. But if commanding, he can sufficiently replace me."
Daphne rejected the King's proposal.
Aurora thought it was getting interesting in her heart and watched the scene.
And as for Cecily, who sees Daphne as a rival, she had a good impression of Daphne who offered to accompany.
"Your Highness, I would feel reassured if Commander Seals accompanied us. Considering the Kingdom of Cascade lends a hand to avenge Your Highness, there is no reason to refuse the Royal Guard Knights Order Commander, the person in charge of the investigation, from accompanying us to subdue the mastermind of the attack on Your Majesty."
Thus, Cecily asked for permission for Daphne to accompany.
Louis received the wish and told the King it was no problem to accompany.
"Our country thinks there is no problem with Commander Seals accompanying. We also confirm his ability is no inferior to Cromwell's."
"However, the Duke is..."
The King's true feelings came out.
"My father-in-law is also indignant about the attack on Your Majesty, and strongly ordered me to solve the incident no matter what."
"Your Majesty, please decide."
The Chancellor also thought this would be pushed through and urged the King to give up.
Eventually, the King decided to allow Daphne to accompany.
"Understood. Be sure to get evidence that he ordered the attack on Me, and make him pay the price for his scheme."
"Understood."
Thus, Daphne joined the Imperial City raid plan.
After that, the meeting turned to discussion of the national army and the Western Noble Alliance Army's advance, and they discussed the advance route to the Imperial Capital. And, excluding Louis, the three of them, the King, the Chancellor, and Aurora, discussed how to handle the Kingdom of Forest going forward, and the meeting ended.
The meeting ended, and the King, the Chancellor, and Louis returned to the Royal Capital. Daphne stayed to act with Steve.
The King returned to the Royal Castle and talked alone with the Chancellor reviewing today.
"I proposed this operation hoping Lord Archibalt would trade blows with the enemy at the Imperial City, but I never thought the Royal Guard Knights Order Commander would offer to accompany. If he dies here, what will my brother say?"
"It is natural to wish for their safe return."
"Enough with the formalities. Still, even an Empire female knight has good feelings for Lord Archibalt."
The King also noticed Cecily's feelings. Only the person themselves doesn't know.
"If they get married, it will be troublesome. When we win, His Highness Louis will become Emperor. If he becomes the husband of the female knight who helped that, the Empire will treat him at the highest level."
The Chancellor said that and sighed. The King put his hand to his forehead.
"Indeed. I don't know what reward the Empire will give Lord Archibalt after the war, but if we don't make it at least equivalent, I don't know what the people will say."
"Then, what shall we give?"
"The National Treasure Sword."
"Is that the proof of succession?"
"No, not that one, but the one with only gems embedded that looks like it."
There are several National Treasure Swords. The sword symbolizing succession is said to be made from the material when the first King defeated the dragon. Naturally, giving that sword would mean passing the throne to Steve. So, they decided to give something else that isn't a symbol of authority but has considerable value.
"So, I understand the treasure sword to be bestowed, but what will you do if the female knight and Lord Archibalt get married?"
"There's no choice. Cancel what the Chancellor planned. For now there's a debt, but angering the Empire will be war again. I made the prince promise to marry our royalty, but I don't think that alone will stop it. It's not something to ruin the relationship for."
Cecily's feelings saved Steve.
Mostly, except for Cecily falling in love with Steve, it went according to Aurora's plan.
"Notify the Fries Holy Church of the danger of personal worship, and make the Fries Holy Church and Lord Archibalt fight. I thought it was a good plan that if two tigers fight, one falls and the survivor is not unscathed."
"If our movements aren't detected."
The plan the Chancellor considered to eliminate Steve was to tell the Fries Holy Church the fear that personal worship of Steve might exceed faith in God, making the Fries Holy Church and Steve fight.
On this continent, religious organizations have more power than nations, so kings of each country disliked their existence.
However, they held the huge privilege of discovering magical talent, so they couldn't oppose. So, they decided to throw Steve instead of the country. Either way the country gains profit, the benefit of the third party.
The King was also keen on that plan, but it was scrapped right here.
And, Steve and others enter the Imperial City with Cecily's Teleportation.
[Author's Note]
Thank you always for your typo reports.