Chapter 54
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 54
As the sun began to set, Lucian turned to his knights.
“The soldiers must be exhausted after such a fierce battle. Let’s stop and rest for a day at every village we pass.”
“Pardon?”
Gerard blinked, caught off guard by the sudden suggestion.
If they marched at a steady pace, they could reach their destination quickly and rest properly. Why bother stopping at every single village? It wouldn't relieve their fatigue; it would only prolong the journey home.
“Third Young Master, in my opinion—”
“Shh. We’ll talk later. I have my reasons for this.”
Lucian cut Gerard off, pressing a finger to his lips.
Raymond and the other knights looked puzzled, but they followed Lucian’s orders without further question. Lucian had never done anything without a purpose before.
Following Lucian’s lead, the Valdek army decided to stay the night in a small village.
“Oh, my! M-my lords, what brings you to a place like this...!”
“We’ll be resting here for a day. We’ll pay for everything, so please prepare meals for the soldiers.”
“Yes, yes! We’ll get right on it!”
The village chief hurriedly ordered the villagers to prepare for the soldiers' arrival.
The village was so small that there were hardly any houses to use as quarters, but the soldiers, accustomed to such conditions, settled in quietly. The villagers, who had been trembling in fear at first, were relieved to see elite troops who were strictly disciplined and showed no signs of looting.
“It would be best for your lordship to stay in my house. It’s humble, but it’s the best the village has to offer...”
“It’s more than enough. Thank you.”
Being a small village, the chief’s house wasn't particularly grand. Fortunately, it was larger than the others, enough to fit about a dozen people.
Once inside, Lucian gathered his knights.
“We won’t be heading straight to Kelheim. We’re going to slow down the march.”
“What is the meaning of this sudden change, sir?”
“Think about it. If we go straight to Kelheim now, will there be anyone there to recognize our achievements? I suspect everyone will just be confused, not knowing what actually happened.”
The knights nodded in unison at Lucian’s words.
Usually, the details of a war only become known as rumors spread during the merit assessment process. While rumors do circulate before then, it typically takes time for everyone to gather at the Imperial Palace. Since the forces had scattered immediately after the war ended, there hadn't been enough time for word to get out.
“Idealists think that if you act rightly, people will eventually find out. But that’s a delusion. No matter what you do, if you don’t make it known yourself, no one will ever know.”
“Does that mean...?”
“Before we return to Kelheim, I intend to let the surrounding areas know how this war actually played out. Of course, I can’t say it myself, so I’ll have to spread it through the mouths of others.”
The knights began to murmur, glancing at each other in surprise.
As nobles, they weren't ignorant of politics, but they weren't exactly gifted in the art of manipulation either. While they were struggling to process Lucian’s plan, Gerard, the advisor, spoke up.
“But wouldn't that be like exposing the Imperial Family’s dirty laundry? Even His Majesty the Emperor avoided a formal merit assessment. For us to step forward and spread the word seems a bit...”
“Then, Sir Gerard, are you fine with being lumped in with the Allied Forces and treated like a defeated soldier? Your own achievements will be buried along with them.”
“Mmm.”
Gerard fell silent, the point hitting home.
It was unfair enough for their merits to be buried; there was no reason for them to shoulder the blame for someone else’s mistakes. While the common soldiers might be satisfied with just a monetary reward, for a knight, reputation was everything.
“If you’re thinking that the truth will eventually come out later, you’d better abandon that thought now. My brothers will do everything in their power to bury my achievements just to keep me in check. Keep in mind that this is your last chance to elevate your own names.”
The hesitating knights seemed to snap out of it at those words. They began to raise their voices one after another.
“The Third Young Master is right. It’s one thing if we had no merits, but what is the point of hiding the ones we’ve earned?”
“Shouldering criticism we don't deserve isn't a virtue; it’s just foolishness. I will follow the Third Young Master’s lead.”
“I’ll follow as well!”
“Me too!”
Since their own reputations were on the line, the knights united behind Lucian.
Lucian gave a satisfied smile, then stroked his chin thoughtfully.
“I’m glad everyone agrees. The problem is how to spread the rumors as naturally as possible. Sir Raymond, do you have any ideas?”
“It’s difficult for me to say. My specialty is more along the lines of hiding things from others.”
Raymond, who was standing guard, scratched the back of his head awkwardly. He wasn't without experience in black ops, but his work always involved avoiding public attention. This kind of propaganda was foreign to him.
On the other hand, Lucian had done plenty of this in his past life, but he had usually done it himself. This was his first time ordering someone else to do it.
‘I don’t have a reliable lieutenant for this, and I can’t just leave the army to wander around myself. Besides, with a body like this, no one would take me seriously anyway.’
Even if he hid his identity, no one would believe a sixteen-year-old boy. To spread rumors effectively, he needed someone who looked like they had weathered the storms of the world.
After some thought, Lucian called for Hugo, who was resting.
“How is the squad leader business going? Is it working out?”
“They don't just follow me out of obligation anymore; they all recognize me as their leader. My performance in the last battle must have left quite an impression.”
Hugo shrugged with a proud look on his face. He seemed quite satisfied with being recognized by elite soldiers rather than just back-alley thugs.
“But why did you call for me, sir? You said you wouldn't look for me until we returned to avoid rumors of special treatment.”
“Actually, there’s a problem.”
Lucian explained the situation to Hugo—how he wanted to spread rumors about the battle as naturally as possible, and how he was struggling because he didn't have the right person for the job.
After hearing the story, Hugo grinned and thumped his chest.
“You’ve come to the right person. I have just the man for a mission like this.”
“Are you going to do it yourself? I suppose since you lived in the underworld, you’d know how to intentionally start a rumor...”
“No, not me. One of the men under my command.”
“What? A soldier in your ten-man squad?”
So, a common soldier?
Well, given that the army was a melting pot of all sorts of people, it wasn't impossible for a suitable candidate to be there.
“He says his dream was to be a bard, but his father forced him to enlist to stop him from dreaming. He’s adjusted well to soldier life, but man, can that guy spin a yarn.”
Hugo spoke passionately, saying the man would have been a successful storyteller. Seeing him vouch for the man so strongly, his ability seemed certain, but Lucian had another concern.
“But can he tell the story without sounding suspicious? It’ll be a problem if it’s obvious that I ordered it.”
“You don't even need to give him an order, sir.”
“What do you mean?”
“What men love most is bragging about their own exploits. If you just give us some excuse to go to other villages, he’ll spread it all on his own.”
Lucian’s eyes widened at Hugo’s words.
Come to think of it, that’s exactly how men were. Having spent his past and present lives focused only on the big picture, he had forgotten such a basic human desire. In the past, Lucian himself had been a greenhorn, busy spinning his own tales of bravado.
“Hugo, as Commander-in-Chief, I have an order for you.”
“Pardon? For me, not my subordinate?”
“I haven't had much of an appetite lately, but I find myself suddenly craving salted venison. Take your squad and scout the surrounding area to find the most delicious meat possible.”
A smile formed on Hugo’s face as he tilted his head. He then bowed deeply and spoke with a sly grin.
“I shall ask around far and wide, talking to as many people as possible before I return, Commander-in-Chief.”
*
Lucian used every excuse in the book to delay the march as much as possible. Meanwhile, Hugo led his squad all over the Valdek territory.
“What? You mean the war is already over?”
“I’m telling you! Those bastards broke the Grand Accord, so what else could we do? We had to get out before they started using poison.”
“Good heavens, poison! Are you boys alright? Any injuries?”
“Injuries? Please! We were out there on the front lines, making a name for ourselves alongside Lord Lucian!”
With the funds Lucian provided, Hugo’s squad members ate and drank to their hearts' content while they talked. Without even needing a direct order, the detailed events of the battle flowed from their mouths simply because they weren't told to keep quiet.
The soldier Hugo had mentioned, in particular, showcased his talent, boasting of Lucian’s achievements.
“...We found out later that His Highness the First Prince insulted him, telling him to stay back if he was scared. Can you believe it? Lord Lucian only said it because he was worried about His Highness.”
“Hmph, so what happened?”
“What else? He had no choice but to stay back. But even then, Lord Lucian showed his foresight and decided to follow secretly. He wanted to make sure they at least made it to Bodium Castle.”
“Oh dear, if he’d been caught, that would have been straight-up insubordination.”
“Did he get caught and scolded again?”
“Quite the opposite! Just as Lord Lucian predicted, flares for help went up everywhere! As if he’d expected all of this, he turned back and said, ‘Move out,’ with such gravity...!”
With only minor exaggerations, the raw truth spread throughout the Valdek territory.
The conflict between Lucian and Marquis Bernhardt, the First Prince’s folly, the breaking of the Grand Accord, the rescue of the Allied Forces, and the appearance of the Emperor.
The commoners talked incessantly about the battle, captivated by the thrilling tale. Eventually, the news reached the ears of Grand Duke Sigmund and the other brothers in Kelheim.
“We must summon that fool here immediately!”
Jordi spoke to the Grand Duke, his face flushed bright red. The veins on his forehead looked ready to burst.
“If the battle is over, he should have returned as quickly as possible to report the situation! Instead, he’s neglecting his duties as a commander to loiter around and brag about his own deeds! How can anyone be so thoughtless!”
“It’s true that our brother achieved something, but the Allied Forces were defeated. It’s a tragedy for the Empire. Spreading the word like that doesn't look good, objectively speaking.”
Joshua added his support to Jordi’s words. Unlike the furious Jordi, he feigned composure, but the irritation seeping through his voice was unmistakable.
Tristan, also clearly displeased, added his own piece to his brothers' arguments.
“Setting everything else aside, this is something His Majesty the Emperor wanted to bury as much as possible. Going against that intent to spread the details is not a wise political move.”
“Mmm.”
Grand Duke Sigmund stroked his chin, considering his sons' protests. There was certainly enough ground to find fault with Lucian’s actions.
Seeing the Grand Duke hesitate, Jordi, thinking their argument had worked, shouted again.
“Father, you must call Lucian here at once and reprimand him in front of everyone! If this continues, people are going to start treating that idiot like a hero!”
“In front of everyone?”
“Yes! That way, others will see him for what he truly is...!”
“Tsk!”
The Grand Duke clicked his tongue loudly and glared at Jordi. Jordi flinched at the sudden change in the Grand Duke’s demeanor.
“W-why are you looking at me like that?”
“You pathetic boy. It’s not that your brother isn't at fault, but you’re trying to ruin everything over a petty grudge.”
“Pardon?”
“Did your brother achieve those merits alone? His achievements are also the achievements of every soldier and knight who fought alongside him. And you want to belittle him in front of everyone? I’m sure those who risked their lives under our family’s banner would be thrilled to hear that.”
“....”
Jordi was left speechless by the Grand Duke’s stinging rebuke.