Flames of War VI
...I went a bit too far.
Her emotions were so clear that even a fool could read them.
Eleonor stood there with flushed cheeks, struggling to contain her embarrassment like a young girl experiencing her first love.
This was entirely unexpected. I never imagined that Eleonor—the leader of the Southern Coalition, the greatest adventurer of the era, and a knight undefeated in open warfare—would look at me with such an expression.
Granted, it was partly intentional, but...
I swear, I never wanted things to go this far. Controlling everyone in sight by using my Charm stat without restraint wouldn't help me achieve my goals anyway.
Still, this is too much.
When I used my Charm stat to captivate someone, it wasn't surprising to see this kind of reaction.
Of course, Eleonor undoubtedly possessed numerous artifacts, including those designed to ward off mental interference.
However, resisting someone who drew people in through pure, unadulterated Charm was impossible with simple anti-mental interference artifacts.
Unless one used an artifact that suppressed emotions entirely—turning themselves into a monster incapable of feeling joy, excitement, or pleasure under any circumstance—they had no choice but to be drawn to me.
But there was a good reason why I had exercised restraint until now.
The moment they realize they've done something out of character, they will inevitably become wary of me. Once they start guarding themselves against me, there is no future.
It was the same principle as a mighty warrior being unable to wield their strength against an invisible enemy.
No matter how infatuated someone became with a charismatic person, the moment they grew distant and their interactions decreased, the 'victim' would be able to look back on their own actions and thoughts rationally.
Of course, they would eventually realize I hadn't used any underhanded tricks, but human emotions don't always follow logic.
If I were to give Eleonor an order that she would never accept under normal circumstances, she might agree to it now. She might carry out my command.
But once I returned to my territory, she would begin to question her choice. After reflecting on why she had made such a decision, she would grow suspicious of me.
It would be much easier for her to believe that Edrin had mastered some undetectable hypnosis or mind-control technique rather than admitting she had acted completely out of character.
Even if it succeeded, the problems wouldn't end there.
She was not alone. Numerous advisors, generals, companions, and allies supported and served Eleonor here.
Even if I secured Eleonor's absolute support, they would not accept my directives. While it might be possible to convince them one by one eventually, it would be an immense waste of time.
Still, I had no choice but to use it...
The Charm stat was an ability that could be controlled to some extent, even if not perfectly.
I could adjust how I appeared to others and regulate the level of influence I exerted over them.
And in front of Eleonor, I had pushed my stat to its absolute limit to present myself as the most alluring member of the opposite sex.
Since I had never experienced it myself, I couldn't know for sure, but based on the game's descriptions, I had a rough idea of how I must look to her.
She would see me as the incarnation of beauty, the perfect man. It was something she would never normally do.
But I had no choice but to persuade Eleonor this way.
If I half-heartedly hide my hand, she might close her heart off entirely!
While fleshing out the plan, I had spoken with Irene quite a bit. During those conversations, I had realized a potential danger beforehand.
Eleonor might refuse to listen to anything Edrin says!
Sharing a language doesn't guarantee a conversation. Even the most silver-tongued negotiator cannot persuade someone who sits at the table with their ears entirely shut. Even if words are exchanged, it is a meaningless exercise.
The way I used my Charm stat to influence choices was by nudging people to agree to proposals that, while defying common sense, weren't entirely impossible.
But if someone had absolutely no intention of listening to me in the first place, using my Charm stat that way would be pointless.
Sigh...
Ultimately, this was my own karma. To be precise, it was the karma of the original Edrin Silverline.
Irene had traveled with Eleonor and shared everything about my true character and past misdeeds without holding back. As a result, Eleonor had learned exactly what kind of man I was.
I needed to adjust her affinity toward me so that she would at least be willing to hear me out. If I failed to make a good first impression, the plan would never move forward.
That was why I had resorted to this.
It's not over yet.
It was a pity to drag Eleonor out of her fantasy and back to reality, but I had to do it.
My goal was not to seduce and manipulate a girl infatuated with Count Edrin, but to become someone who truly understood Countess Eleonor.
"Would you mind listening to me for a moment?"
"Yes!"
Eleonor was still lost in her fantasy, completely captivated by his sweet voice.
No matter what the man in front of her said, she felt she could accept it without a single doubt. She was just like a young girl in love.
But he said nothing. He simply stared at Eleonor in silence, as if waiting for her.
A heavy silence fell over them. Only after some time passed did Eleonor finally snap out of it and realize her state.
H-Hic!
She wasn't wearing the face of a leader preparing for negotiations; she had the face of a woman utterly smitten with Edrin.
W-Was he worried about me?
Catching her breath and regaining her composure, Eleonor looked up at Edrin once more.
He was still breathtakingly handsome. His appearance, like that of an incarnation of beauty, and his confident posture remained unchanged.
However, Eleonor's demeanor shifted. In an instant, she remembered who she was and how many lives rested upon her shoulders.
"Y-Yes. I'm ready. Please, go ahead. I assume you came to request reinforcements? You don't have to worry about that. I'm not sure how many soldiers I can spare, but I will send enough to at least match Valerian."
Eleonor spoke reflexively, letting out the words she had prepared beforehand.
I-I didn't sound strange, did I?
She didn't want to earn his dislike. Yet, at the same time, she was a leader who had to speak with responsibility.
But at least this much...
It was what she had to say. They were reinforcements she had to send.
Although she did not share a direct border with Valerian, she was well aware that Valerian was expanding her power through terror, conspiracy, murder, and war.
Even if she lacked the confidence to win an all-out war right now, failing to fight Valerian would destroy the very foundation of Eleonor's identity—her reputation as a knight who fought for justice.
Even if she had to retreat later due to being overwhelmed, sending reinforcements to oppose Valerian's army was a choice she had to make.
"No, that is not it. Actually... I came to ask you not to send reinforcements."
The atmosphere turned ice-cold. Eleonor regained her rationality in an instant.
"Why?"
Eleonor questioned Edrin, her voice and gaze significantly colder.
"Just in case, discard any hope that Valerian will treat a surrendering lord with respect. She is a ruler who employs people solely based on their ability."
Employing people based on ability alone, looking at nothing else. It sounded reasonable on the surface, but Valerian's personnel management went far beyond that.
Murder, rape, embezzlement, assault—no matter what crimes they committed, as long as they had ability, they could hold key positions under Valerian.
"Even if you bring great benefits to Valerian, you will be discarded soon after. A lord is valuable before surrendering their territory, but once the land is handed over, Edrin Silverline will be worthless to her."
"I know. I have no intention of submitting to Valerian."
"Then why? If you think you can hold off Valerian on your own without our help, to be honest... I might root for you, but I don't believe it's realistically possible."
Valerian's army was strong. Eleonor refused to acknowledge anything else about Valerian, but she knew all too well that her military was powerful.
Several foolish lords, harboring the belief that Valerian was merely a woman who only knew how to spin conspiracies, had tried to face her head-on. And they had all died.
'Field Commander Valerian' was just as competent and formidable as 'Conspirator Valerian.' The army she had personally raised was also terrifyingly strong.
"No. Because I know that, I am worried about you. If your army and Valerian's army clash inside Arcteria, we stand no chance of winning."
"I am not so weak as to need anyone's worry. While I don't mind being cared for by you... please, trust us."
"No. It is not that I do not trust you, Countess. I do not trust my own territory."
Edrin shook his head. Eleonor felt a foreboding premonition.
"When your army and Valerian's army enter my territory at the same time, do you really think your forces will be welcomed?"
And with that, he threw a question at her that she had never even considered.