The Winds of War, Part II
"You've come, Brother."
Irene was waiting for me, her expression deeply somber.
It was only natural. Getting caught in an assassination attempt against me—especially one she hadn't even ordered herself—was more than enough to make her gloomy.
But right now, we faced a crisis incomparably larger than that, one that threatened the very survival of our entire territory.
"You know the general situation, don't you?"
"I don't have an intelligence network," I replied. "I've heard rumors, but they might not be accurate. Could you explain it to me? I want to make sure there are no misunderstandings."
"..."
She frowned, seemingly trying to discern whether my claim of having no intelligence network was truth or lie.
"Very well," she said. "First of all, Valerian has raised an army. She is gathering thirty thousand soldiers at our border."
I already knew this, but hearing it directly from Irene brought home the sheer gravity of the situation.
Thirty thousand soldiers. Objectively speaking, for someone like Valerian who ruled over vast territories, that number was a drop in the bucket.
She wasn't mobilizing for an all-out war, nor was she straining her resources to field these men.
With her own lands fully fortified, she could easily deploy thirty thousand troops from her standing, readily available forces without breaking a sweat.
Their equipment would be top-notch, and their training flawless.
The Black Armor worn by Valerian's army was a symbol in itself. It was proof that she could afford to equip a fully prepared standing army with expensive, standardized gear.
If we wanted to equip Arcteria's soldiers with armor of similar quality right now, it would take years of effort and an astronomical amount of gold through conventional means.
And it wasn't just the armor. Their crossbows, swords, and spears—everything was sharp, sturdy, and meticulously maintained.
"Valerian's army is strong," Irene admitted. "As the one responsible for this territory's military affairs, I hate to sound weak... but I have to face reality. With our current forces, we stand absolutely no chance of stopping them."
It wasn't just a difference in gear; the quality of the soldiers themselves was on another level.
Valerian's forces were a formidable army whose notoriety echoed across the entire continent.
At a single command from their mistress, Valerian, they would mercilessly slaughter thousands. They were capable of committing atrocities so severe that the flames of their arson would paint the sky red.
"They are insanely cruel, and they possess the strength to back up that cruelty."
Yet, their infamy did not stem from brutality alone.
This was Valerian's army. They served a master whose strategic intellect was unmatched by anyone on the continent.
They never broke formation without orders, and when commanded to charge, they would plunge into the most perilous battles without a shred of hesitation.
Their physical stature and close-quarters combat skills overwhelmed ordinary soldiers. They won almost every engagement, and the mere sight of their dark armor was enough to shatter enemy morale.
"She wouldn't mobilize her army without a reason," I noted. "What is her justification?"
"There hasn't been an official announcement yet," Irene replied. "Technically, she is only regrouping troops within her own borders, so she has no obligation to declare her intent. However, according to our intelligence, she claims she has yet to receive an apology from the late Count Wilhelm."
It was a laughable excuse. If she had truly wanted an apology from him, she would have demanded it while he was still alive.
Even if Irene or I sent a letter of apology on Count Wilhelm's behalf, Valerian would never be satisfied.
She would claim the apology lacked sincerity or that words alone were insufficient. She would demand impossible concessions, and the moment we failed to meet them, she would use it as a pretext to launch a full-scale invasion.
Every other lord and ruler on the continent would know this invasion was baseless, but none would dare point it out.
Valerian was powerful. And when you possessed absolute power, justification followed naturally.
"What do you plan to do?"
"Countess Eleonor sent word that she is preparing reinforcements," Irene said. "But... it isn't much. Only about fifteen thousand."
Countess Eleonor had expanded her influence by dispatching 'reinforcements' to those in need.
Even before inheriting her title, she had built a legendary reputation by hunting monsters and subjugating magical beasts.
She had even led a small, elite squad to slay a horrific demon that came close to becoming a Demon King.
She was a formidable knight in her own right, and those who followed her were equally strong, capable of matching her martial prowess.
While the quality of her soldiers' equipment left much to be desired, their morale was second to none.
"So, war is coming."
"Yes."
Irene offered a bleak smile, looking like someone who had only days left to live.
"You should flee, Brother. I cannot give you much travel money, but right now, we must be grateful just to survive."
As she looked at me, her eyes held no trace of the hatred or disgust she usually harbored.
"And if I refuse?"
"I would like to apologize for the insolence of my knights, but I am desperate right now," she warned. "Depending on the circumstances, I might have to finish what they started."
"War isn't the only answer," I said calmly.
"Then what is?"
Irene's eyes grew sharp.
"Should we surrender? Kneel before Valerian? Don't tell me you don't know what that witch does to the people of the territories she conquers."
Her hands trembled as she clenched them into tight fists.
"She forces commoners to hold crude weapons and uses them as arrow fodder without a second thought! She feeds them just enough to keep them from starving—or rather, just enough so that only half of them die—while forcing them to labor day and night! Or she simply slaughters them all!"
Valerian didn't commit such atrocities in every single territory she conquered. However, she did it often enough that the people never forgot.
"Valerian's army is powerful, but Arcteria is closer to Eleonor's sphere of influence. War will break out continuously. And if we surrender, our people will be the ones bearing the brunt of the suffering!"
"I know that."
"Brother... you. You aren't planning to sell this territory to Valerian just so you can live a life of luxury on your own, are you? I will never allow that."
Her expression was grim and resolute.
"But regardless of what we choose, the fact remains that the people will suffer if war breaks out, right?"
Submitting to Valerian or resisting her to the end.
Either way, tragedy was guaranteed.
"That..."
Irene knew it too. Once we officially entered a state of war, she wouldn't be able to coddle the populace as she did now.
She might have to forcibly relocate thousands of citizens, or hunt down draft dodgers to press-gang them into the military.
Since Arcteria's armaments and economy were far from robust, it wouldn't be surprising if the citizens were used as arrow fodder with crude weapons, or if they starved to death after losing their supply lines during the siege.
"It's best if no fighting happens at all," I said. "I will go meet Valerian myself."
"W-what do you plan to do?" Irene stammered. "You aren't naively thinking you can meet Valerian in person and seduce her with your looks, are you? If you try something that foolish and fail, you will die!"
"And if you start a war to fight Valerian, do you think you'll survive?" I countered.
Irene bit her lip.
Valerian was notorious for executing those who opposed her in the most brutal and agonizing ways possible.
Even the high nobles, who normally didn't care about the plight of commoners, would shudder and curse in horror whenever Valerian brutally executed another lord.
Irene wouldn't receive a merciful death either. Arcteria would fall eventually, and Valerian would emerge victorious.
Even if we somehow miraculously defeated those thirty thousand soldiers, Valerian wouldn't stop. She would simply reinforce her army with even more troops from her lands, pursuing an even more overwhelming and ruthless victory.
"I have to risk my life too," I said. "Besides, you have nothing to lose, do you?"
"..."
Irene looked skeptical, but she seemed to agree that this was the only viable way to protect the territory intact.
"I won't be using any cheap seduction tactics," I assured her. "As you said, Valerian isn't the type of person to fall for that. But I do have a plan."
"Do you really think it's possible?"
"I have to try. But for it to succeed, I need a few conditions met."
Irene was still wavering, but a faint glimmer of hope now flickered in her eyes.
When she chose war, she had undoubtedly prepared for her own death.
She had only chosen to fight because she couldn't bear to let the people of Arcteria live as slaves or be slaughtered like cattle.
If she could find peace without bloodshed, she looked ready to sell her very soul to make that deal.
"I will do whatever is in my power right now," she said. "Tell me."
And so, I uttered the words I could never have spoken unless she was this desperate.
"The position of Lord. I'll take it."
It was a proposal she would have never accepted under any other circumstances.