A small village in the southern region of Krafte.
The army had set up an encampnt outside the village, and I had co to the village chief's house with the Great King.
“Are, are you a noble?”
“Yes, you’ve worked hard. We’ll be staying for a short while.”
“We will ensure there is no inconvenience during your stay, Your noble Lordship.”
“We will be leaving after staying just one night, so don’t be too tense.”
The Great King answered the responding village chief perfunctorily.
He didn't reveal he was the King, and his behavior, as if he usually went around like this, was extrely natural.
Though I, who was accompanying him, was uncomfortable in many ways and was on the verge of death.
The reason we were traveling together like this after exchanging such a spirited, undeclared declaration of war was:
-But You, do You have a way to return?
-Ah.
Usually, diplomatic negotiations are a process that takes more ti, going through more protracted procedures. That was the case with the negotiations with the Empire in the Kingdom of Alps.
However, as soon as I arrived in Krafte, I was summoned by the Great King the very next day, and the negotiations ended right there.
The Libre and its escort fleet, which I had sailed on, had taken Talleyrand and departed for the Eastern Empire, leaving in the awkward position of having to stay in Krafte, where war had been foreshadowed, and simply wait for their return.
Fortunately or unfortunately, this in many ways extraordinary Great King did not leave to stay in embarrassnt.
-You must be very busy preparing for two years, I cannot let You waste your ti. Let us go to Francia.
-Hmm, are You lending Krafte's ships?
-No? We shall go by land.
……Thus, I was suddenly returning by land, escorted by a regint of the Krafte army led by none other than the Great King.
Since the reason for going by land was for the Great King to arrange a truce with the Empire, I didn't really have anything to say…….
The Commander-in-Chief of the Francia Revolutionary Army was being escorted by the Great King of an enemy nation with whom war is scheduled, crossing through the Empire which is currently at war.
It sounds crazy, but this is reality, I'm getting dizzy.
……I want to go back quickly and see Christine.
I also need to give her a heads-up about Wittenfeld.
Considering the temperant of this mad Great King, it's highly unlikely that damn chancellor brought up Christine out of sheer boredom.
The point is, that chancellor also made his own kind of declaration of war.
The war between Francia and Krafte has a two-year reprieve, but the battle in the shadows, not on the battlefield, may have already begun.
“Why do you look like you're at death's door? Have so.”
The very one who had made so distraught, Karl II, offered a potato with an unconcerned face.
The King of a great Power, and an old man of 60 at that, readily accepts and eats sothing like a potato baked by the wife of a re countryside village chief.
I'm used to this sort of thing too, though.
As I quietly picked up a potato and ate it, the Great King smiled faintly.
“Yes, you look like a man who has shared life and death with his soldiers on the front lines. A man who wages war should have that kind of quality.”
……Is war the only thing in this old man’s head?
From what he's shown so far, the Great King has a truly peculiar personality.
He even had such a conversation with a rchant who, having heard news of the Great King’s arrival, failed to recognize the plainly dressed Great King in his simple uniform.
-Are you an attendant of His Majesty the Great King?
-The Great King will arrive later.
Answering so nonchalantly, staying for a while before leaving, not putting on airs like a King, and quietly passing by, he observed that the lives of the Krafte commoners didn’t seem too bad.
-As a result, since they call an enlightened absolute monarch and Great King, I have sufficiently dedicated myself to the nation. In that case, do I not also have the right to command the Common People to dedicate themselves to ?
It certainly wasn't an empty statent.
If only he wasn't such a warmonger, he would definitely have been a pretty good King.
The Krafte army showed fanatical obedience to the Great King, and unlike the Empire, it seems Eris-style policies of inclusiveness won't be much help against Krafte’s Military.
The Great King finished his potato, picked up a sausage, put it in his mouth, chewed, swallowed, and then spoke,
“The truce negotiations will proceed as scheduled.”
“……Is that so.”
‘Did he receive a ssenger on the way or sothing?’
‘Anyway, he’s unpredictable.’
Indeed, from the perspective of the Empire, which is currently in chaos and has no spare capacity, they have no choice but to accept a truce if the Rhineland is returned.
Their Empress must have expected Krafte to imdiately join the war and crush Francia, but the one holding the decision-making power now is Krafte, not the Empire.
The Great King, having roughly finished his al, quenched his thirst with lukewarm, tasteless beer and said,
“Tomorrow, we leave Krafte’s borders.”
“I see.”
As I responded vaguely, the Great King grinned.
“Your reaction is lukewarm, isn’t it?”
Well, did you expect to be flustered or sothing, being dragged all the way here to the Empire’s domain?
“With the army led personally by the Great King, I don’t think there will be anyone who would dare to harm .”
Unless they're itching to be trampled by those war machines, there wouldn't be such a madman.
“Yes, you must be eager to return to Francia as soon as possible, right?”
“Goes without saying.”
The Great King smiled faintly.
“Still, spare so ti. It will take so ti for the Empire to send an emissary as well, so since we’ve co this far, let’s stop by sowhere before we go.”
I had to forcefully smooth out my face, which felt like it would contort on its own.
No, where else are we going? I thought, but…….
“You’re going to go anyway, no matter what I say, aren’t you?”
If he was going to listen to my opinion in the first place, he would have asked before we set out.
At that, the Great King replied with an amused face.
“Hahaha! Let’s just say it’s in lieu of the two years.”
*
The place we stopped at before heading to Francia was sowhere I had never even considered.
Southern Germania Empire, Stuttgart.
……It is the territory of Grand Duke Leopold.
Beyond the army marching, flying the flag of the Krafte Kingdom, the vassals of Grand Duke Leopold are visible, fully expressing their hostility.
Slightly averting my gaze, the Great King, the one who brought here, had a leisurely expression on his face.
Well, this is.
I thought at least on the way back to my country, there wouldn’t be anyone itching to be trampled by these war machines, but to think he’d bring to a place like this where such a person might exist.
In many ways, he’s truly an unpredictable fellow, this Great King.
I glanced up at the flag of Grand Duke Leopold’s family fluttering from the building.
When I first saw it, it was a symbol of terror.
“Announce that the Great King of Krafte and the Commander-in-Chief of the Francia Revolutionary Army have co to et the Grand Duke as old adversaries.”
So very dignified…….
The Grand Duke’s vassals looked quite bewildered, but still, they diligently guided us.
It seems he had contacted them in advance with the intention of coming here from the beginning.
The atmosphere of the Grand Duke’s residence was extrely subdued.
Cutting through that dark atmosphere, we arrived at the door.
“……Your Highness the Grand Duke, His Majesty the Great King of Krafte and Marquis Lafayette have arrived.”
There was no answer, but the vassal who had announced us inside opened the door and bowed respectfully to us.
“Please enter.”
Even as he said that, his inability to completely hide his hostility towards made give a bitter smile as I stepped inside.
Grand Duke Leopold sat leaning against his bed and greeted us.
A gaunt figure, completely different from before.
……I had heard rumors that he collapsed, vomiting blood in the last battle, but I didn’t expect him to look like this.
Was the imnse presence he always exuded whenever I confronted him the weight of a hero and brilliant general of the Empire?
Only now did I properly realize that he was an old man of similar age to the Great King.
“It has been a long ti, Johann. My old enemy and comrade-in-arms. I am very pleased to see you again like this.”
……No, look at this Great King’s audacity.
Grand Duke Leopold seed to have the sa thought, as he replied with a hollow laugh.
“It has been a long ti, Your Majesty the Great King.”
Then he looked at and gave a bitter smile.
“……Marquis Lafayette.”
“Your Highness the Grand Duke.”
The Grand Duke’s complexion was pale, and he seed to have no strength.
Just looking at him superficially, it seed as if 10 years had passed since I t him in the Kingdom of Alps.
As the Grand Duke and I silently faced each other, the Great King chid in.
“To see you, who tirelessly blocked my path, in such a state, it is truly regrettable. You were the only one in the Empire whom I acknowledged as a worthy adversary. Ti is fleeting.”
“……It seems ti has passed Your Majesty the Great King by.”
“Hahaha. With the stage I have longed and longed for now before , would it not be unjust to succumb to sothing like the passage of ti?”
The Great King and the Grand Duke looked at each other for a mont, and the Great King twirled the cane in his hand and grinned.
“It is a gift of my own accord, to a worthy Enemy, Grand Duke.”
Then he turned his head to and said
“Then I shall excuse myself for a mont. I have too much to catch up on with the Grand Duke, so I shall yield to my young friend first.”
With those words, the Great King turned and left the Room.
In the Room where Silence descended with the sound of the closing door, the Grand Duke looked at intently and then slowly opened his Mouth.
“Congratulations on your Victory, Marquis.”
I did not answer, and the Grand Duke, after a short pause, spoke again.
“And I express my regrets.”
I gave a Bitter Smile.
We won against the Empire, but a War with the Krafte Kingdom awaits.
Only after seeing Krafte’s army with my own eyes did I understand.
Why the great Grand Duke Leopold could only barely hold out against that Great King.
The burden of the future confrontation with that Great King weighs down.
The Grand Duke must have endured the sa thing.
“……I too am regretful to see you like this, Your Highness the Grand Duke.”
“……I see.”
The Grand Duke replied with a sowhat wistful Face.
Unlike the Grand Duke’s vassals, I saw no hostility towards in him.
From his Face, I felt only deep regret.
After a mont of Silence, the Grand Duke smiled faintly and opened his Mouth.
“No matter how much I think about it, when I first confronted you, I should have defeated you, even if it ant carving away my own flesh.”
I too smiled faintly.
When Count Milbeau was surrounded, I, who had rushed from the Southern Region, negotiated with the Grand Duke and made him Retreat.
If the Grand Duke, instead of retreating considering the Empire’s situation, had resolutely defeated then, perhaps I would not be the Commander-in-Chief of the Revolutionary Army, but rely a general under Valliant.
“But you did not, did you.”
“Yes, I did.”
The Grand Duke was silent for a mont, then spoke.
“……You have seen your will through to the end.”
-To follow blindly even when knowing it is the wrong Path. Is that truly the way to protect, Your Highness the Grand Duke?
-That does not seem like sothing to say to an enemy general, Marquis. There is a conversation befitting soldiers. If that is your thought, then show it on the Battlefield.
I recalled the conversation I had with him in the Kingdom of Alps.
“……Your Highness the Grand Duke also did so.”
Although we were outnumbered, this was a War in which we had the advantage from the beginning.
The Revolutionary Army I led fought with unity, buoyed by the Existence of an irregular like Eris and the Absolute Superiority of our cause.
In contrast, the Imperial Army had low Morale due to their cause, consisted mostly of forces from Feudal Lords acting on their own whims, and was fighting an expeditionary War against , who received Support from Christine.
Despite all that, Grand Duke Leopold did his Best, and indeed pushed into a corner several tis.
The Grand Duke gave a small laugh.
“Is this so consideration to make a defeated man feel a little better?”
“I am sincere, Your Highness the Grand Duke.”
If I were in Grand Duke Leopold’s position and he in mine, honestly, I’m not confident I could have done as much.
The Grand Duke looked at intently and then spoke.
“I am a sinner. A sinner who disappointed the expectations of the Kaiser, and a sinner who failed to take responsibility for the subordinates who trusted and followed .”
“…….”
“The wrong Path from the start. Yes, it was. Only when my subordinates crumbled before your incitent did everything that had been blinding my eyes finally disappear.”
The Grand Duke let out a hollow laugh.
“I did my Best to repay the Kaiser’s grace. However, I realized too late that the Kaiser, who should be looking after the Common People, did not bear even as much responsibility as the foreign Kaiserin.”
The Grand Duke slowly turned his gaze to and laughed dejectedly.
“Without even knowing that, I prattled on to King Louis about honor and the path to protecting the nation’s Common People.”
Nevertheless, there was no self-loathing on the Grand Duke’s face as he said that.
“However, even now that I have co to the very end and reflect upon it, the only conclusion I reach is that I would have walked the Sa Path. That is the Life I, Johann Leopold, have walked.”
With the hazy face of one who has let go of everything, he smiled and asked.
“You, who turned your Back on your liege, convinced he was walking the wrong Path, and are leading the Revolutionary Army, you would not be able to understand , would you?”
“As you said, I cannot understand Your Highness the Grand Duke.”
I looked him straight in the eye.
“……However.”
Like Count Lionel, who opposed until the very end, yet ordered his vassals to surrender and died as a lord.
“Your Highness the Grand Duke, you did your Best as a subject of the Kaiser and as a general of the Imperial Army. No one has the right to disparage that as worthless simply because the Result was not good.”
To condemn everything as wrong simply because one is a loser and drive them to death – the republic of madness I experienced before my regression is enough.
“……At the very least, I fought every mont against Your Highness the Grand Duke with respect. Your Highness was an Enemy worthy of that.”
The Grand Duke smiled faintly.
“Marquis.”
“Speak, Your Highness the Grand Duke.”
“The threat you will face now will be far greater than I.”
“……I am aware.”
The Grand Duke was silent for a mont, then added.
“When facing the Great King, do not consider the future or Strategy. The mont you consider such things and prepare your next move while fighting, you will be broken before him. Think of every mont as your last and resist by pouring everything you have into it.”
“……I will keep that in Mind, Your Highness the Grand Duke.”
The Grand Duke seed to compose his breathing slowly, then threw a joke with a smile.
“You must be tired from dealing with the Great King. I have ordered that your accommodations be given special attention, so go and rest now. Mustn’t I also conserve so strength to deal with the Great King?”
“Haha, I never thought I would feel such empathy for Your Highness in a Place like this.”
The Grand Duke chuckled, then a mont later, his expression changed as he spoke.
“Though my vassals may harbor hostility towards you, they are not so disloyal as to defy my Will, so you need not worry too much during your stay.”
“I am grateful for your Consideration, Your Highness. Then I shall take my leave.”
As I turned my back to leave the room, a low voice reached .
“I am glad that my final adversary was you.”
I too slowly turned, bowed my head to him, and replied.
“The Glory was all mine, Your Highness the Grand Duke.”
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