Chapter 50
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 50
"C-Count Dominic!"
"His Excellency has been struck down!"
Cries of horror erupted from the reserve unit as they witnessed Dominic’s decapitation.
An army that loses its commander instantly devolves into a disorganized rabble. In death, Dominic was forced to endure the very strategy he had intended to use against his enemies.
"Sweep them all away!"
—Waaaaaaaah!
At Lucian’s command, the one thousand elites trampled the reserve unit all at once. They were already few in number, and with their morale hitting rock bottom, they were wiped out in an instant.
Having cleared the reserves, Lucian tossed the severed head to his aide, Gerard.
"Sir Gerard! Tie this bastard’s head to a spear and show it to everyone!"
"Yes, Third Young Master!"
Gerard immediately ordered a nearby soldier to hoist the head high upon a spear.
The Krepelt forces, who had been pressing the Allied Forces, were struck with terror the moment they saw Dominic’s head mounted on the spear.
"The... The Count’s head...!"
Their morale was already flagging at the sight of enemy reinforcements. Now, coupled with the gruesome death of their commander, their will to fight vanished instantly, replaced by a surging tide of fear.
As the Krepelt army faltered in confusion, the Valdek forces slammed directly into their flank.
"Die, you rats!"
"R-Run! Run if you want to live!"
"You idiots! Don't show them your backs!"
Lower-ranking officers desperately tried to rally the soldiers, but it was futile. Having violated the Grand Accord, they knew they would have to pay the full price if they lost this war. As the shadow of defeat loomed, the fear of the inevitable retaliation consumed the soldiers.
"You damn fools! I told you not to break formation! If you retreat any further, I’ll personally—!"
Splat!
"Gah!"
"If you're so reluctant to retreat, I'll cut you down myself."
Lucian charged at the field commanders who were desperately trying to stem the chaos, cutting them down one by one. Every time someone tried to reorganize the troops, Lucian was there, and soon, the chain of command fell silent.
Before long, the Krepelt army collapsed entirely. The Allied Forces and the Valdek army, their spirits soaring, gave chase.
"Leave none alive! We have no need for prisoners!"
"Divine judgment for the oath-breakers!"
"I am Hugo! Remember that name well!"
As if venting all their pent-up frustration, the Allied Forces systematically annihilated the Krepelt troops. Once victory was certain and everyone began to catch their breath, Cedric rushed toward the First Prince, Claude.
"Brother, I’ve come to save you! Are you unharmed?"
*
"Uh... Ce-Cedric? Why are you...?"
Cedric dismounted in front of the dazed Claude, knelt, and shouted, "I am glad I wasn't too late! I came with Lord Lucian to rescue you! Please forgive your younger brother for not arriving sooner!"
"...!?"
At Cedric’s words, the expressions of the other lords shifted subtly. If they had truly retreated all the way to the Horsen River, there was no way they could have arrived this quickly. It was clear they had been following the Allied Forces from a close distance.
The problem was that such an act was a direct violation of the orders given by the Commander-in-Chief, Claude.
‘Did His Highness the Second Prince ask Lord Lucian to stay nearby?’
‘Wait, isn't that essentially insubordination?’
‘Regardless, it was a huge help in the end. It should be seen as a wise judgment.’
‘It’s not something that can be overlooked so easily. His Highness the Second Prince is...’
The whispering lords suddenly fell silent. None of them dared to voice the most sensitive topic: the succession rights to the imperial throne.
Sensing the reaction around him, the Second Prince, Cedric, kept his head bowed and allowed a faint smile to play on his lips.
‘Yes, it is undeniable insubordination. It’s also an act that undermines my brother’s authority. But who could possibly blame me now?’
Had Cedric followed orders obediently, Claude would have been killed or captured here. Since he had essentially prevented a total catastrophe, it was difficult for anyone to openly criticize his disobedience. Above all, hadn't Cedric just demonstrated to everyone that he was moving independently of Claude’s commands?
‘Everyone must have realized by now that I’m not truly indifferent to the throne. They’ll be busy calculating which side to line up on.’
Back when Claude’s authority was intact and the Emperor supported him, showing off one's ability was dangerous. Given the Emperor’s personality, he would have exiled Cedric to the far reaches of the empire at the slightest hint of him eyeing the throne.
But with this incident, Claude had publicly proven his incompetence to the entire Empire. The nobles would have no choice but to consider Cedric as a replacement. Even if the Emperor tried to remove Cedric now, he would surely face fierce opposition.
‘In truth, it was Lord Lucian who took the initiative, not me... but there’s no need to correct their misunderstanding. Such fine details weren't part of our deal.’
While Lucian gained martial reputation, Cedric intended to paint himself as the wise man who had anticipated and prepared for all of this. As long as he didn't tell an outright lie and simply let the atmosphere lead people to the wrong conclusion, Lucian wouldn't be able to complain.
Just as Cedric was about to lean further into the mood he had created, a voice rang out.
"I see! So all of this was the First Prince’s arrangement! Truly, a brilliant man!"
The Marquis exclaimed in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear. The nobles blinked in confusion at the sudden outburst.
"What do you mean by that all of a sudden? Isn't His Highness the First Prince right here?"
"Think about it. Do you really think His Highness the Second Prince, who has always been so loyal, would have disobeyed orders on his own? This was clearly done under the secret orders of His Highness the First Prince."
"...!"
"Sending the Second Prince to the rear must have been a ruse from the start. They coordinated their stories just in case an enemy spy caught wind of it. Isn't that right?"
With bloodshot eyes and blood trickling from one ear, the Marquis gave a sharp grin. Seeing Bernhardt’s detestable smile, Cedric involuntarily grit his teeth.
‘That crazy old man! He’s trying to either give all the credit to my brother or force me to confess to insubordination!’
While it was difficult for Claude’s side to bring up the disobedience, Cedric was also reluctant to admit his fault openly. It was one thing if someone else brought up the responsibility despite his achievements, but the moment he admitted wrongdoing himself, it would give his opponent the justification to punish him.
Marquis Bernhardt had cleverly shifted the subject of the conversation from Claude to Cedric.
‘I’m sorry, but I can’t let you win all the fame, Second Prince. No matter how stupid the First Prince is, it’s better than having you on the throne.’
The sharp gazes of the two men met, sparks flying in the air.
Claude, who had finally regained his senses, belatedly grasped the situation and began nodding vigorously.
"Y-Yes! It is as the Marquis says! Cedric, you did truly well!"
‘You son of a...!’ Cedric fumed inwardly. Usually, the man couldn't even change his own clothes, yet he was quick-witted only at times like this.
"To think you moved so quickly despite my orders! It was truly timely!"
"...You flatter me."
Suppressing his emotions, Cedric replied and looked up slightly. Claude’s eyes, though his legs were still shaking, were filled with wariness. Unlike before, he had clearly noticed Cedric’s ambition.
‘Dammit, did I underestimate that old eagle too much?’
Just as Cedric was about to sigh at the situation that had been flipped in an instant by the Marquis’s scheme...
—Victory is ours!
Boooooo—
—Waaaaaaaah!
From the direction where they had pursued the Krepelt soldiers, the sound of a horn and a thunderous cheer echoed.
*
Flick.
Lucian shook the blood off his sword and stared at the few soldiers fleeing in the distance. There were fewer than a hundred of them, but since they had escaped, they would surely report this defeat to their main force.
"What a waste. I should have wiped them all out."
"You have already achieved more than enough merit, Third Young Master!"
Gerard, the staff officer, widened his eyes at Lucian’s regretful tone.
"You slew the enemy commander, rescued His Highness the First Prince, and rallied the soldiers who were on the brink of defeat to render the enemy incapable of recovery. On top of that, you’ve cut down more than seven knights. Why would you crave more merit?"
"The merit isn't the problem; it’s the ones who escaped. Once Krepelt hears the news, they’ll pursue us with everything they have before we can retreat. I wanted to make sure the information was completely cut off."
"I mean..."
Gerard started to ask if he wasn't being too much of a perfectionist, but he held his tongue. Lucian was merely expressing regret; he wasn't obsessed. He clearly viewed it not as excessive greed, but as something he 'could have done but failed to do.'
‘Is this what it means to have a different perspective? To think the Third Young Master takes a much higher vantage point for granted than I, his strategist, do.’
Leaving the wryly smiling Gerard behind, Lucian turned his horse. Now that the battle was over, it was time to report to the Commander-in-Chief, Claude.
However, before Lucian could even dismount and kneel, Claude shouted first.
"You were magnificent, Lord Lucian! Just as I ordered, you were thoroughly guarding our rear against the enemy!"
"...?"
What is he talking about?
Lucian blinked and looked around. Seeing the smiling Marquis and Cedric’s crumpled face, he quickly pieced together the situation.
‘Ah, so that’s how it is.’
What Lucian and Cedric had done was undeniably insubordination. No matter how great the achievement, it was difficult to say, "Actually, I ignored the Commander-in-Chief’s orders and acted on my own." So, they were planning to dump all the credit onto the First Prince. It was a clever move.
‘I’m sorry, but I have no intention of accepting such an unfair deal.’
Lucian gave a small smirk, then immediately put on a bewildered expression and tilted his head.
"Your Highness, what do you mean? Orders?"
"Did I not command you! To follow us while pretending to retreat to the rear and keep an eye out for the enemy! That is exactly what I am talking about!"
Claude spoke loudly on purpose, glaring at Lucian. It was a look that screamed 'get a clue,' but Lucian instead frowned and looked at Blasker.
"Lord Blasker, what is the meaning of this?"
"W-What do you mean?"
"I clearly stated that I would take full responsibility. Yet, for you to shield me like this!"
"No, Lord Lucian...!"
"Merit-based justice! Merit is merit, and a crime is a crime! I have no intention of evading responsibility! Please, do not do this again!"
After his short outburst, Lucian immediately dropped to both knees and pressed his forehead to the ground. Then, in a voice full of raw emotion, he cried out toward Claude.
"Your Highness! I am profoundly grateful for your desire to shield me, but this is not right! I kept the army on standby in direct disobedience to your orders, without ever receiving such a command! How can you say such things!"
"...!"
"Even though I was supposed to wait in the rear, I could not overcome my worry and followed you, ignoring even the Second Prince’s attempts to stop me! Everything was done of my own volition, so please, grant me the proper punishment!"
Thump.
Having finished his speech, Lucian slammed his head against the ground once more. The lords fell into a collective silence, glancing at one another. Though his words were brief, they were packed with enough context for everyone to deduce the truth.
‘So... he didn't follow them on the First Prince’s orders in the first place?’
‘He was supposed to withdraw to the rear, but he disobeyed orders on his own initiative?’
‘If this is true, then the Second Prince didn't contribute anything either.’
Since Lucian himself had admitted to the crime of insubordination, the resulting merit belonged solely to him. To put it another way, the two princes had been trying to stealthily package Lucian’s achievement as their own.
Cedric and Marquis Bernhardt, who had been made to look ridiculous by a few short sentences, let out hollow laughs.
‘The Marquis was formidable, but Lord Lucian is on another level.’
‘What a persistent fellow. He’s really scraping up every last bit of credit for himself!’
Even though Lucian had confessed to insubordination, no one dared to suggest he be punished. Unlike Cedric, who was bound by the imperial family, Lucian was the proxy of the Grand Ducal House of Valdek. If they tried to punish him for confessing a fault after he had just saved Claude’s life, Grand Duke Sigmund would surely be enraged.
Moreover, the Emperor himself might be horrified and rebuke the act of holding him accountable in the first place, so it was better to stay silent.
"Grrr...!"
Claude’s face turned beet red as he trembled. If things stayed like this, he would be seen as a pathetic commander who lost the battle, a foolish monarch who couldn't recognize talent, and a piece of trash who tried to steal someone else’s credit.
His anger, boiling like an active volcano, was on the verge of erupting, but the cold stares of the surrounding lords snapped him back to his senses.
‘N-No. If this continues, the next succession...!’
If he lost his temper here, what little authority and reputation he had left would hit rock bottom. He might even face a challenge for the throne from Cedric, who had already shown his ambition.
Claude quickly forced a smile and personally helped Lucian up.
"N-Now, don't be like that. How could I possibly punish you? If anything, I am sorry for potentially wounding your honor with my clumsy attempt to defend you."
"No! Everything is my fault for disobeying orders!"
"What fault could you possibly have? If we must be precise, you only have the merit of saving me. So, please stand up and assist me."
Claude squeezed out the softest tone he could manage, but his voice continued to tremble with misery. Now, Claude had to desperately scavenge for the facade of a 'monarch trying to protect his subject' that Lucian had tossed him like a scrap.
Lucian, seeing Claude’s expression that was somewhere between a smile and a sob, flashed a bright grin.
"Since Your Highness is showing such mercy, how could I not be moved? I shall serve you with all my loyalty!"
"Please do... please..."
With his head hanging low, Claude commended Lucian in a voice of total resignation.
While holding Claude’s hand, Lucian shot a sidelong glance at Marquis Bernhardt. The Marquis met his gaze for a moment before looking away. Now that all his plans had been derailed, the Marquis’s influence was as good as dead. From now on, the Allied Forces would have no choice but to move according to Lucian’s will alone.
"Your Highness, I know everyone is exhausted since the battle has just ended, but I would like to hold a war council immediately. Will you permit it?"
"...So be it."
Faced with Lucian’s request—which was more of a demand—Claude could only nod in agreement.