Barua, Revolutionary Army encampnt.
I opened my mouth, looking at Eris across from .
“The bond sales and collected donations seem quite substantial, Your Majesty.”
“That's a relief.”
Eris took a sip of her tea and added,
“Honestly, I was a little worried. What if there wasn’t much response.”
I replied with a bitter smile.
“It's a problem to underestimate your own influence.”
Eris, with ti on her hands on the battlefield, had written and published an appeal to the people, calling for bonds and donations to support the war effort during the national crisis.
Even so, the Francian people already had a strong sense of pride in the National Assembly, established through revolution.
But now, the Saintess Queen herself, having co to the frontline and performing miracles to protect the Revolutionary Army, was appealing for help to protect the people and the Assembly from the threat of Krafte.
The people's participation was more than enthusiastic; it seed that not participating was enough to raise questions about one's patriotism.
“…Aren’t they angry at the Central Party?”
At Eris's question, I gave a bitter smile.
“Well, I did have a hard ti because of it.”
It was the Revolutionary Party that announced and published the Queen’s appeal in the newspapers, not the Central Party.
Naturally, the Central Party, starting with its Director-General, Count Anjou, had been up in arms…
Noticing Eris darting her eyes, seemingly watching my reaction, I spoke with a bitter smile.
“But your choice was the right one, Eris. You are not a queen established by the Central Party, but one elected by the people.”
The mont the Queen's appeal was announced not by a noble from the Central Party, but by the most radical Revolutionary Party, which had even opposed her enthronent, the perception that this war protected the revolution and the National Assembly would have been firmly imprinted on the people.
“You are doing well. Don't worry about my reaction. You’ve already graduated from my sponsorship, you’re a queen serving the people.”
Eris bead and replied,
“Yes, thank you, Marquis Lafayette. It's a relief that you also think I’m doing well.”
She then took another sip of tea, and in an instant, her face transford into that of a queen as she spoke.
“However, the Commander-in-Chief’s recent performance has been sowhat lackluster.”
“…My apologies, Your Majesty.”
Who could have imagined it?
To be ambushed in one's own territory, occupied by the enemy for less than a month, of all places.
The honor of the Francian Cuirassiers, who had never known defeat and made their na as the strongest heavy cavalry in the Central Continent, had been shattered.
To think that Jero Morel, who, as a cavalry commander, had boasted an undefeated record, particularly in reconnaissance battles, would suffer such a blow.
The mory of the usually composed Morel running to in shock to apologize left a bitter taste in my mouth.
“The sa mistake will not happen again.”
Eris also replied with a firm expression.
“It had better not. We’ve already been defeated twice in just a week. …I don't even want to count the number of soldiers who have been sacrificed.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
Now I finally understand the intentions of the Great King of Krafte.
That man prefers to crush his opponent head-on in their area of greatest confidence.
The attack on Alsace?
It was certainly a surprise attack, but the loss of Alsace did not an our defense line collapsed.
Strictly speaking, the key area of the frontline in Alsace-Lorraine is Lorraine, which led us to worry that the Krafte Army, after crossing into Alsace, would launch a surprise advance.
Losing just Alsace was not a major event.
But the Great King, despite having no intention of making an imdiate, reckless charge, had deliberately attacked Alsace first.
Thinking back now, that wasn't rely a surprise attack, but a frontal annihilation of the 'Mirbeau Line,' in which the Revolutionary Army's ‘Master of Defense’ was so confident.
The reconnaissance battles with the Chasseurs also did not need to be t head-on.
Although they had trained their Hussars as shooting light cavalry, in the end, in a direct exchange, their side, with fewer troops and on an expedition, would suffer more.
But they responded because reconnaissance battles were an area in which the Revolutionary Army was confident, and by committing their heavy cavalry first, they deliberately drew out our heavy cavalry, who prided themselves on being the strongest in the Central Continent, then struck them with an ambush.
The Revolutionary Army, having been defeated twice in the areas they trusted, was naturally demoralized, but the Krafte Army did not imdiately advance to exploit that disarray.
That damned Great King really enjoys this war as if it were a ga of chess.
“There will be no more probing operations.”
I admit it.
It's shaful, but we cannot gain a tactical advantage against that Great King.
“Wringing out every last bit of strength Francia can muster…”
Grand Duke Leopold had said it. You cannot win against that Great King by preparing for his next move.
“I will achieve an evenly matched battle, even if just once.”
And Christine had asked for just one.
Just once. It doesn't have to be a victory.
If we can just achieve a draw, to instill the belief that the Krafte Army is not invincible.
“If we can just do that, we can win this war.”
Even the seemingly invincible Krafte has its limits.
Their standing army, which appears to be a war machine, cannot be imdiately replenished once depleted.
Given that their population and national power are only half of Francia's, if we can sohow inflict great losses on their standing army and turn it into a war of attrition, victory will be ours.
Just then, a knock sounded, followed by a voice.
“Your Majesty the Queen, Your Excellency Marquis Lafayette. I am Louis Desaix.”
“Co in.”
Desaix entered after receiving Eris's permission, saluted, and wore a rarely seen expression of confusion.
“What is it?”
“Well…”
Desaix scratched the back of his head and spoke.
“The Great King of Krafte has invited Your Majesty the Queen and His Excellency the Marquis to tea ti.”
Both of us could only respond dumbfounded.
“…What?”
“Pardon?”
*
At a midpoint between the occupied territory of Krafte and the Revolutionary Army's defense line.
Karl II, whom I hadn't seen in a long ti, sat at a table temporarily set up and waved leisurely.
“Welco, Queen of Francia, Marquis Lafayette. I am pleased that you have accepted this old man's invitation.”
I thought the person sitting next to the Great King was his guard, but his rank as a lieutenant general proved wrong.
There was a scribe, probably brought along to record the conversation…
And behind him, a Krafte captain stood next to a man in a Revolutionary Army uniform.
A Revolutionary Army soldier?
I know that face.
A subordinate who cut down his brother, who had been turned into a Drone in Iberica.
What was his na again?
…Vachet, was it?
José Vachet.
Judging by his battered face, he must have put up quite a resistance. Was he captured in the last battle?
Receiving my gaze, Captain Vachet bowed his head deeply with an apologetic expression.
“We are pleased to accept your invitation, Great King of Krafte.”
Eris answered while veiled, but contrary to her words, her voice was dripping with iciness.
The Great King, not seeming to mind at all, offered Eris and a seat.
“Do you enjoy coffee?”
“No.”
The Great King’s eyes widened at Eris’s firm and imdiate reply, then he let out a smirk.
“That’s a pity. Then I will serve you black tea. Marquis Lafayette, my special blend of coffee-”
“I will have the sa as Her Majesty the Queen.”
The Great King smacked his lips, then gestured with a reluctant air.
Then, the lieutenant general personally poured black tea for Eris and .
“Prince Heinrich. My nephew.”
“It is an honor to et you, Her Majesty, Queen Erisliste Lilianne De Francia, Your Excellency, Marquis Pierre de Lafayette. I am Heinrich von Krafte.”
“…Pleased to et you.”
“It is an honor. I have heard much of Your Highness’s fa.”
So this is the commander of the Southern Army. I heard he has considerable military talent.
As I thought that, the Great King casually dropped a bombshell.
“He is my heir.”
Both Eris and I froze.
I knew the Great King had no children, but to announce his heir, whose existence was only rumored and was not yet officially declared within Krafte, in such a way.
No, but what's the point of telling us, his enemy nation?
As I looked on with a quizzical face, the Great King leisurely sipped his special coffee and opened his mouth.
“Yes, Marquis Lafayette. Your Revolutionary Army’s…”
The Great King glanced at Captain José Vachet, who was standing behind us—
“The zealous Captain Vachet was insisting quite forcefully.”
He grinned and asked.
“Did the ‘Drones’ truly exist?”
It took so effort to suppress the twitching corner of my mouth.
The Krafte Kingdom, too, would have denied the Drones as a fantastic tale, wouldn't they?
“I saw them with my own eyes, and fought them. They were abominable creations of demons, made by draining all the mana from humans and turning them into puppets.”
The Great King replied.
“My subjects said it was a fantastic tale you fabricated to avoid a war with us.”
“To them, a few foreign citizens becoming the puppets of demons was probably nothing compared to the sweet fruits they gain from their dealings with the demons, Your Majesty.”
King Karl seed to study Eris's and my faces, then answered calmly.
“So, it seems it is true.”
“If it is true, what will you do, Your Majesty the Great King? Will you stop this futile bloodshed even now and join us in fighting those demons?”
“Haha, hahaha…”
The Great King chuckled, then asked.
“Do you have the ans to attack Abyss Corporation?”
Before I could react, the Great King added.
“Do you have a navy strong enough to destroy the fleet of the ‘Lust’ company and invade their holand, with the capacity to maintain the supply lines of an army that has entered the sunless island?”
“It would be impossible for Francia alone. But we are seeking cooperation with the Eastern Empire for that purpose. It will require a preparatory period, but if not for the war with Krafte, the possibility—”
“A possibility that might give you a chance to fight the demons after I am dead.”
As I was at a loss for words, the Great King added with a smile.
“Therefore, it is not an important issue for . What is important to is the battlefield I will enjoy while I am alive.”
“For a man called the Great King to act as the vanguard of demons is a disgrace to that title—Mph! Ugh! Uuugh!”
Vachet, who had been shouting in fury from behind, wailed as the captain gagged him.
Seeing the scene, the Great King shrugged, and Eris slamd her fist on the table with a thump.
“So again, did you call us here to talk about such things, rely for your ‘interest,’ Great King?”
Karl II stroked his chin and answered.
“No, not at all. I have longed for a grand stage to adorn my final performance. However, I do not like the thought of the Krafte Kingdom and I being treated as the puppets of demons.”
What does he an?
As I narrowed my eyes, Karl II spoke.
“Heinrich.”
“Your Majesty the Great King.”
As Prince Heinrich imdiately bowed, the Great King gestured slightly to the scribe.
I had thought he was brought along to record the conversation, but the scribe, who had been rely observing, finally picked up his pen.
“I, Karl II, Great King of the Krafte Kingdom and Margrave of the Empire, do hereby command. Should the Revolutionary Kingdom of Francia be victorious in the war against the Krafte Kingdom, the next king of Krafte shall guarantee to align with the Revolutionary Kingdom of Francia against Abyss Corporation within the next 30 years.”
Seeing Prince Heinrich’s bewildered expression, it seed this hadn’t even been discussed beforehand. The Great King, having dictated the absurd content, twisted his lips into a smirk before adding.
“As I have no children of my own, the next king can only inherit my throne upon agreeing to this condition.”
Even the scribe hesitated, and the Great King spoke in a deliberately leisurely tone.
“What is the matter? Record it properly.”
As the scribe wrote down the rest with a slightly trembling hand, Karl II turned his gaze to Prince Heinrich, who imdiately prostrated himself before him and replied.
“…I will uphold the will of His Majesty the Great King.”
At a gesture from Karl II, the Krafte captain standing behind untied José Vachet’s gag and bonds and pushed him toward our side.
Only then did the Great King turn his gaze to Eris and and speak.
“If you are defeated by a re kingdom of humans, then to stand against those mighty demons would be nothing but the empty delusion of those who do not know their place.”
Smiling with the utmost elation.
“Queen Erisliste, Marquis Lafayette. I held great expectations for you and gave you two years. So do not disappoint . Show everything you have built up.”
The Great King declared.
“Defeat , and prove that you are worthy to lead this continent and stand against those demons! If you do so, the Krafte Kingdom, too, will gladly stand under your flag against the demons. That is the legacy I will leave for you!”
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