Chapter 128
Chapter 128
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: The Imperial Strategy Meeting
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“Morning duties are done, so shall we take a break now?”
I let out a groan and slumped into the leather chair.
Then, I leisurely basked in the sunlight pouring through the window.
“It’s been a very satisfying day.”
I had deliberately sent the finished jams to the vice-captains instead of the princesses.
If I sent them to the princesses for no reason, they might use it as an excuse to come visit.
‘And lately, the way they’ve been looking at me has gotten weird….’
To be honest, they were all so strikingly beautiful that I’d nearly crossed the line with them more than once.
In fact, just recently, I’d even kissed Irina’s chest.
Of course, it had been a last-resort method to suppress her aura.
However, whether she’d misunderstood it or not, the look in Irina’s eyes when she gazed at me had grown even more dangerous.
‘At least it didn’t go all the way.’
I let out a deep sigh.
Then, I gazed at the horizon visible beyond the window.
By now, the baskets I’d sent should have arrived at the vice-captains of each knight order.
Inside them was a jar of jam and a single enclosed letter.
The letter contained the date of the Secret Knight Order’s next regular meeting, written in code.
‘Their replies should arrive soon.’
I closed my eyes and waited leisurely.
Then, I drifted off to sleep in the peaceful sunlight.
‘It’ll be fine. I definitely told them to send it only to the vice-captains, not the princesses.’
「――――――.」
Meanwhile, in the central imperial palace.
A military council was underway there.
Leonhardt, seated on the throne, ordered the discussion to move to the next item on the agenda.
In response, the attendant stepped forward before the empire’s various retainers and read aloud in a loud voice.
“The next item concerns how to handle the city-states currently facing off against us in the southern continent.”
「….」
The empire had unified the continent, but latent threats still remained.
In the northern continent lingered the nation of warriors, Bakal, along with maritime nations supporting them that were still intact.
If war broke out with them, the city-states in the south could strike the empire from behind.
The goal of today’s meeting was to figure out how to counter that.
「Everyone, share your thoughts.」
The emperor commanded in a low voice, as if appraising his retainers.
At once, the crown prince spoke up first, as if he had been waiting.
“If Your Majesty grants me the opportunity, I wish to deploy knights from the capital knight order to punish the south.”
He argued that the knights’ skills were now nearly a match for a hundred men each and that their command capabilities were also top-notch.
“If we send a small elite force of officers to demonstrate overwhelming prowess, they’ll come begging for negotiations on their own.”
A strategy to intimidate them by showcasing the power of a small elite unit.
To back up his proposal, the crown prince declared confidently.
「So, you aim to show such a clear gap in firepower between nations that they won’t even dream of stabbing us in the back.」
“That’s right, Your Majesty.”
The crown prince politely expressed his gratitude to his father for understanding his intent.
「A sound method. We’ll consider it.」
The retainers also nodded in agreement, following the Conquest King’s will.
They knew the crown prince’s martial prowess well, so they felt reassured entrusting it to his subordinates.
“I propose sending a portion of the total forces from all seven knight orders, including my own, to the front lines.”
Leon planned to draw fully on the princesses’ forces and send them to the front.
Of course, he promised to commit his own knights as well.
However.
Amid the general approval, an objector emerged.
“Please wait a moment.”
A woman with radiant golden hair sat opposite the crown prince.
She was the empire’s chief operations commander and First Imperial Princess.
Lea Andalusia.
“I also wish to present my opinion.”
「Very well, speak, Chief Operations Commander.」
“Thank you for permitting it, Your Majesty.”
The moment the empire’s First Imperial Princess opened her mouth, the conference room fell silent.
She adjusted her monocle and flashed a charming smile.
“I too wish to praise Crown Prince Leon’s strategy. Crushing the enemy’s spirit in the opening move is crucially important.”
The princess soon dropped her formal smile.
With cold blue eyes, she continued.
“However, that alone won’t solve the root problem.”
Leon’s brow twitched at Lea’s words.
“If we crush them hard from the very start, they’ll band together against us as a common enemy.”
Common enemy.
Some retainers nodded at the term.
“As a result, they’ll gradually build up their forces. Then, if we go to war with Bakal, they’ll have both soldiers and justification ready….”
「Trying to intimidate them would only hand them solid grounds to strike us from behind.」
“Exactly, Your Majesty.”
Hearing the emperor’s summary, the retainers exchanged uneasy glances, stirring restlessly.
The empire’s First Princess and First Prince’s opinions clashed.
Supporting one side here might invite unnecessary backlash.
“….”
Proving the point, the crown prince glared at the princess more sternly than usual.
However, Lea paid it no mind.
She simply brushed back her bangs calmly, maintaining her composed expression.
‘Do you think I don’t see through your intentions?’
If the crown prince’s opinion prevailed, he’d only need to send a token force of his own.
Around twenty elite knights.
But the other princesses had fewer troops than he did.
If they each had to match Leon’s contribution…
Twenty per princess would mean sixty in total leaving—a far greater loss compared to the crown prince.
Having seen through it, Lea spoke with a resolute expression.
“There’s no need to go that far. I propose a far simpler method.”
Lea clapped her hands lightly.
At that, her operations staff officer Damian approached and unrolled a pre-prepared map.
「What is that map?」
The emperor asked with a serious gaze.
Following his lead, the retainers focused intently on Lea’s map.
“Secret passages leading to the southern nations. Something my knights and I have precisely analyzed over the past few months.”
Lea elegantly sipped her tea.
She slowly set down the cup and spoke.
“We’ll send knights through these routes to assassinate key heirs in each state.”
An assassination operation.
The conference room went deathly quiet at words even more insidious and brutal than the crown prince’s proposal.
“Oh, and as for the forces to deploy…”
But her statement was merely the beginning.
Lea had already raked over the crown prince’s frayed nerves even harder.
“The Black Knight Order would be perfect.”
“…!”
Black Knights.
The crown prince’s close aides flinched at the words.
“If the assassinations succeed, they’ll suspect each other before they can unite against us as a common enemy.”
Lea emptied her teacup, as if it were a simple matter.
“Then, if we follow up with Leon’s subjugation plan, they’ll surrender to us first.”
She praised the crown prince’s idea while elevating her own voice.
Realizing her intent, Leon wore a cold, expressionless mask.
“I agree with the chief operations commander’s opinion.”
“The Black Knight Order is more than reliable enough.”
Retainers praising one of the crown prince’s premier forces, the Black Knight Order.
Unaware that Lea’s plan was a check on the crown prince, they nodded obliviously.
「I too find the chief operations commander’s proposal quite intriguing.」
“However, Your Majesty, it’s far too dangerous.”
As even the emperor showed interest, Leon spoke flatly.
“If the assassinations fail and our involvement is exposed, it would ignite an irreversible war.”
At the crown prince’s objection, Lea smirked and raised her hand.
“No need to worry. The routes I’ve proposed have no usage records in ten years—they’re perfectly safe. Moreover…”
The empire’s First Imperial Princess removed her monocle.
With her beautiful dragon-like eyes sparkling in a broad smile, she said.
“Would the mighty Black Knight Order ever fail a mission?”
The retainers pressed their lips tight at the princess’s smile.
They all knew the Black Knight Order’s might and the princess’s ironclad thoroughness.
They watched the two royals’ collaboration with great satisfaction.
「….」
The emperor too gazed warmly at his two children.
「We’ll discuss this matter in greater depth at the imperial family council.」
The emperor rose from the throne first.
「This concludes the meeting. Leon and Lea, prepare more detailed plans for the imperial family council.」
“Yes, Your Majesty. You’ve worked hard.”
The two children bowed politely to their departing father.
Only after the emperor had fully left the conference room did they raise their heads.
“You sure talk big about forces that aren’t even yours, Lea.”
On the way out, Leon asked her.
“When else would we get to use the empire’s finest if not now?”
The First Princess crossed her arms alone and sent him a mature, smiling glance.
“And I’m the chief operations commander. I merely suggested utilizing the empire’s assets—what’s the problem?”
The crown prince halted at Lea’s brazen words.
He stared at his sister ahead and said.
“Do you think you’ll get away unscathed after riling me up?”
Mentioning his hidden ace had stirred his killing intent.
“Why should I have to tiptoe around you just to use imperial knights, Leon?”
But Lea showed neither fear nor unease.
“Do you really think the Black Knights under you are your personal property?”
Instead, she turned back to him leisurely and said.
“Don’t delude yourself. Everything you have comes from Father.”
Leaving the warning, the princess calmly turned the corner.
She descended to board her carriage, leaving the central imperial palace.
“Um… Your Highness?”
Damian gazed worriedly at Lea, walking leisurely in her white uniform.
He cautiously spoke up.
“May I ask why you provoked Crown Prince Leon’s ire?”
The princess didn’t even glance at Damian.
She simply stared ahead and replied nonchalantly as she walked.
“It’s nothing. I just couldn’t stand watching him pull petty tricks.”
“….”
The staff officer’s face showed curiosity if that was truly the only reason.
The Black Knight Order was like the crown prince’s reverse scale.
Even mentioning them before their father had scraped at his nerves.
“Is that really all…?”
The two boarded the carriage.
Only when they were finally alone did Lea reveal her hidden intent.
“Actually, the Black Knights recently raided Veil.”
“Yes…? Does that mean Crown Prince Leon knows Sir Veil is a grand master?”
Damian’s mouth fell open.
Lea firmly shook her head.
“No, it was just two Black Knights approaching Veil alone.”
She had real-time intelligence on every corner of the capital.
She knew the full details of the incident.
“But investigating those two dead knights will put Veil in danger again.”
Damian fell silent upon hearing the princess’s words.
Then, realizing her true aim, he adjusted his glasses.
“Ah, surely not…”
At the sharp staff officer’s inference, Lea’s lips curved into a grin.
“Exactly. Divert the Black Knights’ attention from Veil while pulling them out of the capital.”
The princess elegantly crossed her legs.
Her stockings stretched taut.
“So, the scheme from earlier was all for Sir Veil alone.”
Damian chimed in.
Lea immediately shot back.
“No.”
Her denial came almost too swiftly.
“It’s simply imprinting that the Black Knights belong to the empire, not Leon’s personal toys.”
With that, the princess alighted at the western palace.
She strode ahead indifferently.
“….”
Damian stared intently at the back of the First Princess he’d served his whole life.
Then, chuckling softly, he followed her back to the western palace.
“She’s embarrassed, that’s all.”
The elegant and beautiful western office.
Piles of lavish gifts lay before its entrance.
The knights were puzzling over how to handle them when.
Seeing Lea return, they bowed in unison.
“What are those?”
The First Princess in her white uniform asked coldly, and the knights answered with tense expressions.
“Ah, those are… gifts from nobles who met Lady Lea at the recent party.”
Lea tilted her head at the mention of nobles.
No one had ever dared send her gifts before.
“Likely lining up after seeing you confront the other princesses at the party.”
Damian stated boldly, as her closest aide.
“Of course, Your Highness looked especially radiant that day.”
“You’re overdoing the flattery.”
Lea retorted expressionlessly to her friendly staff officer.
She then examined the gifts closely.
Uncomfortable crystal heels.
A fur coat she’d never wear.
And gaudy, cumbersome jewelry to boot.
“Impressive. They picked out nothing but useless trash and sent the very best of it.”
The princess’s face hardened coldly.
She gestured dismissively to have them cleared away.
“Distribute them all to the knights as commendations. You take one too.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The commander entered her office alone, hands behind her back.
In the meantime, Damian fairly distributed the gifts to the knights who had helped move them.
Once the expensive luxuries vanished.
The last remaining gift on the floor was a small, modest basket.
“Who sent this one…?”
Damian picked up the basket.
He examined it carefully, then took it to his own office.
――――――.
“Haah….”
Left alone in her office, Lea handled the accumulated state affairs.
Fatigued from clashing wills with Leon.
On top of that, the chocolates and tea on her desk had run out.
“Oh dear….”
Having just finished her work, she rose from her seat.
She stepped into the corridor, intending to grab a light snack.
The moment she entered the staff officer’s office.
“Hm?”
She locked eyes with Damian, who was sitting at the table, spreading apple jam on a biscuit.
“Ah, did you need me, Your Highness?”
“No, but… what’s that you’re holding?”
The princess pointed to the sweet jam atop the biscuit.
“Ah, among the gifts that arrived, there was jam, so I’m sampling it myself.”
“They sent ‘jam’ as a gift…?”
Lea asked with a dumbfounded look, and Damian grinned, showing her the jar.
“Yes, and it seems freshly made—quite fresh.”
Lea stared at the jam, which looked mouthwateringly sweet.
Glossy, sweet fruit flesh beckoned her.
“Ahem….”
Lea’s pride wouldn’t allow snacking during work hours.
But with saliva pooling relentlessly in her mouth, she finally…
“Give me one too.”
“Here you go.”
She took the basket of bread and jam back to her office.
“Haah… I’m turning into quite the oddity.”
She, who had always been ironclad during duty.
Lately, she’d been craving sweets and taking interest in strange things.
“I need to tighten military discipline starting with myself….”
Lea carefully spread jam on a piece of bread.
The moment she took a bite.
“…!”
The jam’s unexpectedly delicious and fresh taste startled her.
“So sweet.”
The First Princess chuckled softly, gazing at the gift basket.
Who on earth had sent such a cute gift to the western palace?
Curious, she pulled out a gift card from the basket.
And inside it read…
「Apples were abundant on the back mountain, so I’m sending some, Sir Damian.」
“Veil Mikhail?”
The sender’s name was boldly written.
“Ha….”
Lea giggled at the man’s name.
Then, she brought the paper to her nose and inhaled its faint scent.
“Indeed, you always defy my expectations.”
Realizing the gift’s owner, the princess’s smile softened.
With the eyes of a lady, not a commander—beautiful and gentle.
“But…”
Soon, doubt crept in.
“Why send it to Damian instead of me?”
Lea pursed her lips.
Then, with a playful glint in her eyes, she rose from her seat.
As if heading off to scold someone.