Chapter 99 - Episode 98: Departure
It is customary for the nobles of the northwestern part of the Kingdom of Roadberg to hold a banquet at the end of the year to confirm the bonds of their faction and exchange information.
This year, they should have welcomed such a peaceful banquet, but the situation changed completely when Marquis Bechtolsheim, the leader of the faction, sent messengers to each noble in the faction.
The nobles of the northwestern faction gathered at the Marquis's mansion and surrounded a large table, wearing military uniforms stripped of decoration rather than the luxurious ceremonial dress worn for social occasions. The great hall, which would normally have been used for parties and the like, had now been transformed into a conference room for a military council.
Noein also stood at the edge of the gathering, wearing a robe based in black. No matter how influential a rising noble he was, Noein was only a Baronet, making him a supporting character in this military council.
"Gentlemen, first, let me express my gratitude. I thank you for gathering here despite the banquet suddenly being replaced by a military council... I thought at least one person would mistakenly come in ceremonial dress, but it seems my worries were unnecessary."
At Marquis Bechtolsheim's words, the group burst into laughter.
Nobles change their attire depending on the occasion. They wear ceremonial dress for banquets, and more subdued military uniforms for military gatherings or ceremonies.
The reason Marquis Bechtolsheim sent messengers to each territory before the military council was not only to have them begin preparations for deployment as quickly as possible, but also for the purpose of having them gather in military uniforms. While discussions themselves can be held regardless of what one wears, such formal matters cannot be underestimated for the sake of the faction's sense of unity.
"You should have already heard the general gist from the messengers, but let us confirm it once more. Count Marcel, if you please."
"Yes, sir."
Prompted by Marquis Bechtolsheim, Count Marcel, who was beside him, stepped forward. Being a warrior through and through, he was ideal for the role of moderator in a military council.
"As you have all heard, there have been reports that the army of the Kingdom of Lancel to the west is preparing to invade the Kingdom of Roadberg. To counter this, we have received an order from His Majesty the King to send armies from the nobles of the kingdom's northwest and prepare for war with the Kingdom of Lancel."
The nobles present tightened their expressions and listened to Count Marcel's words in silence.
"The enemy's numbers are approximately 15,000. Against them, the southwestern nobles have gathered a total of 14,000, consisting of territorial armies, mercenaries, and conscripts, and three legions of the royal army directly under the royal family will also deploy. Furthermore, we nobles of the northwest will join the fight with a territorial army of 5,000."
"I thought the fellows in the southwest had become spineless merchants, too preoccupied with trade, but it seems they still have the spirit to gather a reasonable amount of military force," Marquis Bechtolsheim added to Count Marcel's businesslike explanation.
The relationships between the various noble factions of the kingdom were, to put it mildly, not very good. At the Marquis's wording, which mocked the southwestern faction, laughter broke out in the conference room once again.
"As His Excellency says, the southwestern nobles have gathered a force that is impressive in number alone. However, in reality, more than half are mercenaries and conscripts from the peasantry. That is precisely why we, who provide assistance with 5,000 regular troops, are important."
Hearing the Count's words, the nobles nodded with glinting eyes. Most nobles love battle.
"His Excellency Bechtolsheim will provide a territorial army of 500, including 100 cavalry, and Count Shuvalov and I will each provide a territorial army of 300. I expect those from Viscount and Baron houses, as well as lower nobles below Baronet, to provide a number of troops commensurate with the scale of their respective territories."
"And do not forget the crossbows. I have already informed His Majesty, so let us achieve results with this new weapon and show the new power of the northwestern faction. Right, Baronet Arqvist!"
Marquis Bechtolsheim spoke in a loud voice that reached the edge of the conference room, and everyone's gaze gathered on Noein.
"...Yes. I, too, though my power is meager, will fight hard for the sake of the kingdom and the honor of the northwestern faction."
Noein, who had let his guard down thinking he would not have to speak, managed to say only that after being suddenly called upon. Perhaps because words fitting of a proper soldier came from the small and childlike Noein, the nobles laughed again.
While breaking into a cold sweat internally, Noein also wore a smile. When his eyes met Arnold's, who stood by Marquis Bechtolsheim as a heavyweight of the faction, Arnold nodded as if to say, "Well done."
"Now, let us decide on the detailed number of troops and the distribution of military branches for each territory."
Count Marcel called out, and after that, the military council proceeded matter-of-factly.
.....
After the military council of the northwestern faction, Noein returned to the Arqvist territory and was chased by preparations for deployment.
Having spoken privately with Marquis Bechtolsheim after the general military council, Noein decided to take a larger number of troops for a Baronet house in order to achieve "exceptional activity," along with 200 crossbows for the southwestern conscripts to use, and two ballistas and explosive flame arrows.
The end and beginning of the year passed centered on preparations for war, and the day to depart for the vicinity of the southwestern border arrived in the blink of an eye.
The Arqvist territorial army participating in the war consisted of a total of 30 people: Lord Noein as the commander, Matilda as his direct guard, Chief Retainer Yuri and Deputy Pence as officers, and 26 soldiers from the territorial army.
Since taking all the retainers of the martial house would leave the territory's defenses too thin, Radley and Bart stayed behind.
"Looking at it this way, it feels more like a baggage train than a combat unit."
"With this many baggage wagons for the number of people, indeed."
Noein and Yuri exchanged words while watching the soldiers proceed with departure preparations.
The Arqvist territorial army, with its heavy luggage, would form a column where soldiers surrounded and protected several baggage wagons. It looked somewhat poor, resembling a caravan, but it was unavoidable since they were participating in a special way where the number of weapons exceeded the number of soldiers.
"Lord Noein, the departure preparations are almost finished."
Pence, who had been supervising the soldiers, approached Noein and Yuri and spoke.
"I understand, thank you for your hard work... Well then, let's each finish our farewells with our families. Yuri, you should go to where Mai and Yakov are."
"Yeah, I'll be back soon."
Saying so, Yuri walked toward his wife and son.
"Also, Pence, wouldn't it be better if you told the things that should be told to the person they should be told to?"
"Geh, even Lord Noein knows?"
"When the maids are chatting happily, I hear it whether I want to or not... Also, I agree with Kimberly's argument. I think Pence should let Rosetta make him happy."
"Normally it's the other way around; it's only right that I make Rosetta happy."
"Ah, you think so too? Then this is simple. Go tell her that."
"No, I didn't mean it like that... Ah, geez, I get it!"
Pence, raising his voice as if resigning himself, walked toward Rosetta, who was watching him from a distance while being flanked by Mary and Kimberly.
"Hey, Rosetta."
"..."
Even though Pence called out, Rosetta said nothing, her eyes glistening.
"Um, well... I'm sorry about the other day. It's not that I made fun of your, uh, feelings."
"...I'm also sorry about the other day."
To Pence, who apologized honestly, Rosetta finally whispered back.
"And so... I've thought about it since then, and I thought I was a lucky man to be liked by you that much. So, from now on, let me be made happy by you... no, of course, I'll make you happy too."
Though his manner of speaking was incoherent, Rosetta's face brightened instantly as she understood what Pence was trying to say.
"Ah, this is such a pain. In short, I've come to like you too. So, when I return from the war, please marry me."
"Pence-san... thank you so much~! I'm so happy~!"
To Pence, who finally showed his masculinity, Rosetta responded immediately. Furthermore, she hugged him despite being in public.
Watching this, Mary let out a cheer, "Whoa, how bold!", and Kimberly, for some reason, nodded with her arms crossed as if impressed, while the people watching around them exhibited their curiosity and looked on with smirking faces.
"Pence, you bastard..."
"Is this okay...? Making a marriage promise before going to war."
Amidst the bright mood, the ones who spoke worriedly were Radley and Bart, who were staying behind. Among them, former mercenaries, setting a "flag" like "marry when I return" before going to war was considered extremely bad luck.
"Ah, damn... but well, it'll be fine."
Pence showed a worried expression for just a moment, but looking at Rosetta, who clung to him with a happy face, he said so with a wry smile.
.....
While his subordinates exchanged farewells with their families and close ones before departure, Noein also approached Clara together with Matilda.
"Dear..."
"It's okay, Clara. I have no intention of dying in the slightest."
There is no wife who does not feel anxiety when her husband heads to the battlefield. Since Clara also showed a worried face, Noein spoke to her while smiling gently.
"But, I want you to promise me one thing. If... if by some chance something happens, I want you to protect this territory. If I know that, I can avoid harboring anxiety or regret."
Even if one has no intention of dying, the battlefield is a place where the possibility of death exists. Noein spoke to Clara deliberately as the duty of a territorial noble.
Clara closed her eyes briefly as if savoring Noein's words, then looked straight at Noein and formed a smile.
"Yes. I promise that if something happens, I will protect this territory, the territory you built. So please, be at ease."
"Thank you... you've become strong, Clara."
"Yes, for I am the wife of a noble."
Noein honestly thought Clara might cry, but she did not shed a single tear, at least in front of her husband. She must have made that much of a resolve.
Noein and Clara exchanged a kiss gently, as if confirming each other's love.
After that, Matilda faced Clara, and they took each other's hands.
"Matilda-san, please promise me... no matter what happens, please stay by Lord Noein's side until the end."
"Of course. I will certainly follow Lord Noein... Clara-sama, please also make a promise. No matter what happens, please live along with this territory."
"Yes, I promise upon God."
Matilda, who resolved to follow Noein even if she died, and Clara, who resolved to live along with the Arqvist territory for Noein's sake. The two of them decided on their resolve to be with Noein in their own respective ways and confirmed each other's roles.
"Well then, I'm off."
"I shall depart, Clara-sama."
"Lord Noein, Matilda-san, please be safe."
That day, seen off by Clara, the wife of the lord, the retainers remaining to protect the territory, and the territorial people, the Arqvist territorial army departed from the territorial capital, Noeina.