Sowing Doubt
"A welcome... What do you mean by—"
She had taken the bait. I let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Eleonor's intelligence network was not particularly formidable. While not entirely nonexistent, Arcteria did not share a border with her territory.
Her information channels here would be sparse at best. Even if she did gather intelligence, she would have to rely on reports filtered through her allies rather than direct dispatches from her own subordinates.
This was a weakness I could exploit. I could deceive the woman standing right in front of me.
"I recently toured the fiefdom to gauge the public sentiment myself," I said. "And I came to a troubling realization."
Even if she harbored doubts about my words, voicing them would not be easy.
I was the Lord of Arcteria, the rightful heir of the Silverline family. To reject information provided directly by someone of my standing, she would need concrete, undeniable proof to the contrary.
"Currently, the Silverline family does not hold absolute control over our territory," I continued. "It is only natural, given that both my father, the Lord, and I, the heir, were comatose for so long."
In truth, we hadn't lost control to the extent I claimed. Irene had managed things flawlessly.
But Eleonor had no way of knowing that for certain.
"Even if I declare Count Eleonor's forces as our allies, not everyone will heed my words," I said. "And even if they do, they may harbor resentment toward your army."
Eleonor bit her lip, clearly caught off guard by a variable she hadn't considered.
"This is different from the battles you have fought in the past," I said. "Previously, you entered conflicts where the line between friend and foe was already clear. You arrived as a savior, welcomed by the passionate cheers of the locals and their soldiers."
I needed to plant the seeds of doubt in her mind, then slip into the cracks of her uncertainty.
"But Arcteria is different. The people here do not harbor a distinct hatred for Valerian, nor do they feel any particular goodwill toward you, Count Eleonor."
"How could..."
"It would not be surprising at all if they wondered why foreign soldiers are waging war on their land," I explained.
Eleonor bit her lip again, falling into deep, serious contemplation.
She was a woman driven by justice. Yet, she was also acutely aware that her righteous reputation was her greatest weapon—one she could not afford to tarnish.
If maintaining that image became impossible, she would lose her justification for marching her troops to clash with Valerian.
"Would they... truly react that way?" she asked hesitantly.
"Valerian possesses vast wealth," I replied. "And she knows exactly how to weaponize fear."
Eleonor's noble reputation was well-known in Arcteria, but Valerian's notoriety was equally widespread.
"Everyone knows that if they surrender to your forces, you will not slaughter them. But they also know that Valerian will show no such mercy."
"That is... that is sophistry!" she protested. "Even if that were true, if the people know of Valerian's cruelty, they must also know what it means to fall under her rule."
Of course it was sophistry. But I possessed the power to make even the most flimsy sophistry feel like absolute truth: my maxed-out Charm stat.
"Yet Valerian is fully capable of exploiting that gap," I said smoothly. "Though the probability is low, you must prepare for the worst-case scenario: that the citizens of Arcteria might join forces with Valerian's army to attack you."
"...That would be disastrous."
For Eleonor, such a scenario was unimaginably horrific.
Her army was strong, but their reputation was built on achievements far grander than mere martial strength.
They had triumphed against foes outnumbering them ten to one. Even when broken and scattered, they had rallied to seize victory from the jaws of defeat.
All of those miracles had been possible because they enjoyed the absolute cooperation of the local populace.
Even if her army was routed, a soldier only had to reach a local home to receive shelter. Surrounded by villagers praying for their victory, they could recover their strength over a warm bowl of stew.
They fought with the absolute conviction that they were on the side of righteousness. That morale was a unique strength possessed only by Eleonor's men.
"My soldiers have little experience fighting under hostile local conditions," she murmured.
Combat experience meant adapting one's tactics to the familiar patterns of past battles.
Eleonor's veterans were highly experienced, but that experience was entirely predicated on the goodwill of the local populace.
"If we try to seek voluntary cooperation or ask for aid as we did before... we might invite unnecessary misunderstandings."
"Precisely."
Eleonor finally grasped the gravity of the situation.
"Would it not be better to intervene once the lines are clearly drawn?" she suggested. "Once the invasion begins, they will realize their need for a savior..."
"That would be too late," I countered. "There is no guarantee we can hold out against Valerian's forces—let alone buy enough time for you to arrive."
"Sigh... Then we have no choice."
I knew the capabilities of my own troops all too well.
Direct confrontation was out of the question. Clashing head-on with Valerian's army would be nothing short of suicide.
"So, what is your plan?" she asked. "How exactly do you intend to stop Valerian?"
"That is what I came to ask of you, Count Eleonor," I said. "If possible, could you station fifteen thousand—ideally twenty thousand—of your troops near Runstan?"
Runstan was a territory ruled by a lord firmly under Valerian's thumb.
Though much smaller than Arcteria, it was heavily fortified. It was also a bustling hub of commerce with a constant flow of travelers.
Most importantly, its strategic location allowed it to threaten the majority of Valerian's territories.
"That is..."
Eleonor's expression grew solemn.
"I have kept an eye on that region for some time," she admitted. "I heard reports of them hunting elves and dwarves like beasts, and subjecting merchants to unreasonable inspections."
She did not lack a pretext to strike. The local lord's transgressions were more than enough to warrant Eleonor's righteous retribution.
"But attacking them means committing to a direct confrontation with Valerian," she warned.
"Even if we fight on our own land, it will still be a direct confrontation," I pointed out.
A strategic point that could threaten Valerian's lands also meant Valerian could easily strike back at Runstan from multiple directions.
"Runstan is a formidable fortress," Eleonor said. "Twenty thousand men will not be enough to take it."
"But your soldiers are elites, Count Eleonor," I countered. "And the garrison at Runstan, regardless of their lord's ties to Valerian, are not Valerian's personal army."
If Eleonor launched a direct assault, Valerian could not afford to ignore it.
Simply by massing her troops there, Eleonor would freeze Valerian's ability to launch military campaigns elsewhere.
"Would that not provoke Valerian into attacking Arcteria even faster out of desperation?" she asked.
"Arcteria is not so easily taken," I replied.
We couldn't win in a straight fight. In an open field, my soldiers would melt away like snow before Valerian's forces.
However, if we held the walls, Valerian would be forced to bring siege engines and powerful mages. She wouldn't want to waste her precious troops just to crush my meager forces.
Ultimately, time would be on our side. Conquering and maintaining control over Arcteria required substantial military resources.
"Valerian will not gamble, nor will she accept a costly trade," I said. "She has no reason to."
She already possessed overwhelming military might and resources. While Arcteria was a wealthy and vital territory, she would prioritize defending what she already owned over launching a risky conquest.
"By simply moving your troops, you can prevent a war," I urged, painting a picture of an easy victory.
I tempted her with sweet words. Though Eleonor doubted it could be so simple, she couldn't help but imagine how wonderful it would be if it actually worked.
"But that is merely buying time," she said. "We cannot keep Runstan under pressure forever."
"Buying time is all we need," I replied. "Circumstances will change. The perfect opportunity Valerian has right now will not present itself again."
Valerian had pulled off the miracle of deploying thirty thousand troops without leaving her own defenses vulnerable. But she couldn't maintain that delicate balance indefinitely.
If she was forced to look elsewhere, or if a new threat compromised her defenses, she would have no choice but to postpone her invasion of Arcteria.
"Is that truly possible?" she asked.
"It won't be easy," I admitted.
Valerian was no fool. Outmaneuvering her would be a daunting task.
"But I will make it happen."
Even so, I could do it. I would force Valerian to halt her march.
Silence fell over the room. Eleonor remained quiet, lost in thought for a long moment.
"...Give me some time to think," she finally said.
In the end, she needed time to weigh her options.
I smiled and nodded in agreement.