No One Welcomes the Summer Fever (9)
Human affairs are inevitably clashes of wills and intentions. If a man named Werner von Hebel schemed things under the pretext of helping a friend and willingly inserted himself into this mess, and if a woman named Charlotte Laura von Ahenmetis agreed to it to escape her current predicament with that friend's aid, then what about the other two men, Ludwig von Dennis and Hewerin Gruffard? What were they responding to in this situation for?
At the very least, the young man Ludwig von Dennis had approached the mock battle with an utterly half-hearted attitude. More than what 'Baron Hebel' had pointed out, he wanted no part of this any more than the imperial princess did—what fun was a "fight for the princess's hand" to someone who didn't want the situation at all? He was simply dragging it out, just enough not to seem like he was giving up, because his father had ordered it and the situation had been thrust upon him, even if he had no appetite for it.
Thus, from the perspectives of the baron and the princess, the one steering this situation was Hewerin Gruffard, a total stranger. He had been leading the battlefield as well. The irony, perhaps, was that even though he was clashing with opponents who were little more than strangers, he was the most emotionally driven one on this field.
That was why, caught off guard at an unexpected point and losing nearly all his cavalry, he chose not to calmly regroup his lines but to charge headlong forward instead. Those who could move unseen through the forest like flowing water, striking a surprise attack on the moving formation—it was the elves' strength, after all. And in truth, with the tide turned against him, it was undeniably one card he could play.
No one on that battlefield could have anticipated he'd send a surprise unit straight at the medium cavalry mid-march. They'd seen it once already, and charging knights with lightly armed troops without proper support wasn't wise. That's why this seemingly irrational decision had nearly yielded an unexpected gain just moments ago.
A soldier had succeeded in unhorsing Charlotte's mount—which she always led from the front—with a mighty spear swing. Had the barrage of weapons that followed struck her directly, he might have landed quite the prize. Even someone as attuned to the flow of battle as Charlotte would have struggled against a sudden ambush while hurrying along.
But as they say, luck is part of skill. The first strike failed to fell her, and now the knights rushing to protect the princess had thrown their lines into chaos in an instant. And Charlotte realized this moment was the decisive turning point.
She couldn't issue orders to the main force now, but if she weathered this attack, her foes would have nothing left to try. She wasn't worried about the main body at all. Their forces were evenly matched—hers even had the edge now that the enemy had pulled reserves for this raid. It wouldn't collapse out of nowhere. Unless the unit suddenly grew a spine, that is.
So how do I handle this mess...?
The two armies, mud-caked and tangled in a chaotic melee where the ground had turned to muck from that earlier western magic, neither able to form proper ranks. Dis-mounted and still reeling from the fall, Charlotte spotted a knight in a black helmet approaching her steadily, step by step. Unlike the summoned soldiers, this one moved with natural grace.
She easily deduced he was the enemy commander—judging by his build, Hewerin Gruffard. As he faced her, the dismounted knights and his soldiers behind him took positions at a distance, mirroring each other.
"You're braver than I expected."
"Is Your Highness mocking me?"
"Don't take it badly. I just said what I thought."
Her mix of formal and casual speech tangled freely. Charlotte could tell from his sharp retort that Hewerin's mood was soured.
"Do you have a strong competitive spirit?"
"Of course. This is a battle we can't afford to lose."
"...From how you're treating me, it doesn't seem like that's your only reason."
In other words: If you win, I'll end up marrying into your family. Is that something you'd say to someone you just tried to kill outright, even in a mock battle?
"...There is one more thing that makes me angry, actually."
"Even though we're strangers?"
"Not strangers with Lord Ludwig. I know what you did to him."
"What...?"
"Don't play dumb. This whole mess started because of your schemes, didn't it? That's why we're stuck playing these childish games."
Hewerin Gruffard growled in a low, fury-laced voice. The weapon in his hand gleamed with enough rage to match.
But from Charlotte's standpoint, she had no way of knowing. ...In truth, Baron Hebel had orchestrated the whole thing, so she couldn't have known anyway. Still, piecing together the context and what the baron had said, she'd sensed he'd done something shady.
"I get that you didn't want this. But pulling dirty tricks on someone else who didn't want it either? How can you wear a human skin and act like that?"
Of course, without knowing the details, how could she respond?
"......"
Yet Charlotte didn't argue back vigorously. If Werner had schemed for her sake, she bore some responsibility too, even if she hadn't known. That was the way of superiors.
"So, you came to take it out on me?"
She could guess why he'd forced Ludwig and herself into this mess—that was all she could say.
Hewerin Gruffard didn't answer. Taking it as silent affirmation, a sigh escaped Charlotte's lips.
"...And all you're trying for is a single mock 'kill'? How timid."
"...What?"
"If you're going to do it, wouldn't a cleaner, surer method have been better? Wrong is wrong, but you're just venting too. What changes? Welcoming a woman you've vented on as your lady?"
"...Don't babble when you know nothing."
"Of course I know nothing. I don't even know why you know about it or why you're angry."
If Ludwig had blabbed everywhere, even the Neustria duke welcoming her wouldn't have been so casual. Yet Werner himself had shown no reaction. He might not have told Ludwig at all. If he'd told anyone, the duke would know soon enough—her words would reach ears eventually.
In short, Ludwig had kept it secret, and the man sharing that secret was Hewerin Gruffard before her. For him to charge in spilling his superior's secret everywhere—especially with outsiders possibly listening...
Personal talk like this probably wouldn't carry far, but she couldn't shake the unease at his attitude.
"So, regardless of why you're mad, I have no intention of taking your reckless venting."
"...Then do as you please."
After a flicker of hesitation, Hewerin Gruffard gripped his weapon with a low growl. His hold was so tight the blade tip trembled. Instinct told Charlotte he'd come at her no matter what.
Her knights would rush to protect her, but she'd need resolve regardless. ...Whether this man had Erna's overwhelming might was questionable, but if he threw himself fully into it, the situation could shift anytime. Tactics meant nothing now. Just surviving the chaos.
Bracing for the brawl, what happened next blindsided her completely.
As Hewerin Gruffard raised his curved sword with a mighty "Yaahhh!!"—
"Charge...!!"
In this unforeseen moment, when it seemed utterly unnecessary, a group burst from the underbrush into the mud.
Dismounted, they slammed into the unprepared swears on the soft earth—heavily armored cavalry. Imperial, naturally.
"...?!"
Hewerin, blindsided by the strike, reacted slowly. With comms down, no way the princess's call for aid had reached her main force yet, and none were spare amid the main clash anyway. He certainly hadn't expected reinforcements from her side.
So flustered, he slipped in the muck while trying to assess, stumbling unsightly.
"Ngh...!"
And naturally, the one who'd orchestrated this timely arrival was him.
"Werner...?"
She murmured his name unconsciously before others, so unexpected was it to her.
"...Reading the situation?"
He probably hadn't been sure he'd be needed either.
*
I'd been fretting if I'd come for nothing. What if something extra went wrong—like the swears hunting my knights? That vague worry had spurred me to rush over anyway.
Even with my command gap, they'd created an insurmountable lead. Should be fine.
Right or wrong, it turned out right in the end...?
Tactically, I'd steadily pushed back Young Lord Ludwig, and Charlotte had foiled their upset plan. I'd preempted their final gamble too, so by mock battle rules, it was a shutout victory.
After that, it was smooth sailing. Hewerin's raiders crumbled in the mud per Lanchester's law, his unit shattered. Even Ludwig, still holding out fiercely, nibbling at chances amid my absence, fell to our pincer with Charlotte.
He probably didn't surrender due to the eyes on him here.
"Mm."
Back to reality, the Neustria duke looked glum, Prince Wilhelm with an "I knew it" smirk welcoming us. Neither in good cheer.
Princess Charlotte shot her brother a sour glance and looked away; Hewerin the same. Young Lord Ludwig hung his head darkly.
"...So it ends."
The Neustria duke raised his impassive face to Prince Wilhelm.
"Seems so."
"Then as Your Highness requested, we'll drop this matter."
"Don't take it too hard. I didn't expect this either."
"Take it hard...? Let's say I scouted future talents."
The duke swept his gaze over us all. Meeting it, I sensed he'd omitted much despite his words. Curiosity toward me, irritation at the princess—plenty in that brief scan.
Soon after, they arranged a meal and he departed.
"Ludwig."
"...Yes, Father."
"'Your Grace.'"
What followed stunned me and the princess. Before all these eyes, he backhanded his son without hesitation.
"......"
The sound suggested more mental shock than pain.
"Pathetic," followed curtly as he turned away.
I felt Hewerin's intense glare trailing him.
"... Hewerin."
"Yes, Young Master Ludwig... For now..."
"...We're leaving."
"...Yes."
They departed, slumped and spaced apart. With the backstory screaming from the scene, and me as the instigator, I couldn't help worrying.
"Well then, Baron Hebel—no, still Werner von Hebel... Werner, shall we settle your reward?"
"Later," I said, ignoring Prince Wilhelm and heading off. Loose ends needed tying.
I ignored his "Tsk" behind me. What caught my ear was the voice following.
"Baron Hebel. I'm coming too."
"Your Highness..."
"...You don't think you're the only one responsible, do you?"
"......"
I wanted to deny it, but couldn't defy her will. I nodded.
"Very well."