The Distant Fleet
The commander's office was mostly quiet. The only sound breaking the stillness was the scratching of the square pen against the paper.
Knock. Knock.
A light knock followed by a knight entering the office.
“Commander, Duke Plamont has arrived.”
The hand moving the pen halted. The attendant's gaze met Mathias's lifted eyes and showed a troubled expression.
“The Duke has joined with eight warships. He claims he did not run away but withdrew temporarily to preserve his forces because the enemy's numbers were too great…”
“I see.”
His expression remained calm, yet strength entered the hand gripping the pen. The attendant watched for his superior's cue before continuing.
“What should we do?”
“Give him a room.”
“Understood.”
The attendant saluted and left the commander's office.
Mathias picked up the pen again. Ink smeared between the neat letters as if ready for calligraphy, disrupting the words. He scratched out the recent entry with irritation and let out a laugh.
‘Plamont's ships numbered thirty-seven before the war. He ran not because he couldn't protect even half of them…’
Mathias had known the enemy's forces since before the war began. Knowing the enemy was as basic as knowing one's own side in military doctrine.
Plamont had a port for trade. That was why the kingdom had provided support to build its military, for the same reason it had been invaded often by Rotinzel pirates. It differed from La Rochelle, which had developed on its own.
Yet the Duke had fled without a fight upon seeing only the shadow of the enemy fleet and had only now raised his head after hearing the news of the Jade victory.
Handing over the army's strength intact to the enemy while making excuses was pitiful.
Mathias felt his mood sour from the anger and set the pen down. He sat on the windowsill right behind his desk and gazed at the sea.
The sea was his place of inner peace. Looking at the vast ocean eased his suffocated chest and lifted his spirits a little.
Still, he needed to shift his mood further.
Mathias reached out and took the report delivered the day before. The content was short enough that reading it once would suffice, yet he read it several times over.
'[Victory at Ileang Castle. Enemy commander Nicolas Wisteria killed. Victor: Knight Jeanne, 2nd Knight Division.]'
Mathias believed information was the most crucial factor for victory in war. Bluisol's every corner held his spies, and one had sent this letter.
It came far faster than any official proclamation.
A victory from distant north, yet victory news always brought joy.
“So that princess said.”
Mathias recalled the princess he had met only once through Divine's introduction. He had asked to meet her because he wondered why that troublesome friend was so happy about finding a lord she would serve for life.
From the first impression, Jeanne was no ordinary woman.
Mathias had sworn loyalty in the heat of the moment to test her, but the response that returned was unexpected.
“Perhaps I should have asked her to issue a duel challenge. A proud man would accept; a timid one would be dismissed. I knew she was testing me and gave her an amusing reply.”
Mathias knew his own strength well. Duke of the kingdom's largest grain-producing region, with a powerful navy. An attractive target for anyone seeking power.
Jeanne knew exactly what that meant and refused.
Moreover, this time she had shown her prowess as a knight on the battlefield. Interest kindled.
“I want to learn more. Who is she exactly?”
Watching the waves, Mathias thought Jeanne resembled the sea.
Yet the immediate concern was the enemy settled nearby.
Mathias cooled his head and returned to the desk. He set aside the battle log he was writing and unrolled the chart to plan the sea route.
***
Plamont Port was Bluisol's largest harbor. As a place for exchange with the Empire and other nations, it was both large and well-maintained.
But the forces using it now belonged to the Rotinzel military.
Walter Martinez and Hereis Aden stood in the port, bathed in sunlight. The sunlight was so intense it was beyond warmth. Sweat streamed down them; they wanted to fan themselves to cool off, but soldiers watched and they forced themselves to maintain a dignified posture.
The heads of ships began to appear over the horizon. Starting as one, they lined up and grew in number.
In the face of that immense grandeur, even the heat faded. A smile formed on Walter's lips.
Finally, fifty ships docked.
From the largest and most ornate vessel descended a soldier with a finely trimmed mustache. Walter and Hereis greeted the reinforcements from home warmly.
“Welcome, Leonhard. We've been waiting.”
Leonhard saluted Walter, who outranked him.
“Leonhard Plaren, here by Your Majesty's command.”
Walter smiled with satisfaction.
Ships were moored and supplies of food and weapons were unloaded. The soldiers pouring out had full faces of self-assurance, as if they would enter battle at once.
Meanwhile Walter and Leonhard exchanged pleasantries.
“I heard you withdrew after the Jade battle.”
“Hah. That's how it was.”
Walter let out an awkward cough to hide his feelings.
Leonhard apologized immediately.
“Forgive me. I meant no offense.”
“No. It was clearly my mistake. Duke Mathias La Rochelle turned out to be far more capable than I thought.”
Mathias La Rochelle, who had been dismissed from superficial information as a playboy, had commanded his ships with perfect skill in the first battle. The fact that those massive ships turned and maneuvered as if one unit proved the soldiers' training was excellent.
Leonhard's expression showed interest.
Walter praising an enemy commander was rare, so interest grew in how great the La Rochelle Duke truly was.
But neither Walter nor Leonhard thought the Rotinzel navy would fight again and lose.
“That will be the first and last time.”
“Of course. Since I have arrived, it must be so.”
Leonhard nodded confidently.
Walter brought forward Hereis from behind him.
“We haven't met before, have we? Allow me to introduce. This is Hereis.”
“Hereis Aden. Sir Plaren.”
“Leonhard Plaren. Sir Hereis.”
Leonhard eyed the young handsome man from head to toe and extended his hand. After their handshake, Leonhard spoke first.
“It's my first time meeting you in person, but I've heard much of you from Your Majesty. I thought I was meeting one of the Emperor's sons.”
“I am unworthy.”
“It is always a pleasure to be connected to a talented man. Let's look forward to working together.”
“Thank you.”
Leonhard gave the young man high praise in his heart despite the Emperor's favor and his courteous nature.
Walter and Leonhard entered the commander's office together.
Hereis stayed to oversee the unloading of supplies and guide the reinforcements.
As soon as they entered the building, Leonhard let out a deep sigh. The heat was gone.
After completing the detailed report on the reinforcements for Walter's quarters, Leonhard handed over a small box.
Walter opened it. Inside were the finest cigars.
“Oh. Quite difficult to obtain, I suppose.”
“Hahaha. You know where I come from, don't you? There is nothing I cannot obtain.”
Walter nodded as if he understood.
Leonhard had originally been a pirate. He had boldly raided Bluisol merchant ships and even those of the Blesk Empire. The Empire had wanted to punish him, but Rotinzel had ignored him cleanly and appointed him a naval officer instead.
Leonhard got to the main point.
“How is the capital?”
Walter let out a short hum, took out a cigar, and lit it. He drew in the deep smoke until the rich scent filled his body. He smoked with satisfaction until only half remained and then removed it from his lips.
“Hah. La Rochelle has been occupied, but it's little more than a shell. Arron is expanding his influence step by step in the vicinity while preparing the military in La Rochelle, and Nicolas set out for the north.”
The detailed situation at Ileang Castle had not yet been conveyed. All letters sent here came from Arron, so they focused strictly on his movements and even downplayed Nicolas.
“Nevertheless, pushing upward has been slow, it seems.”
Walter agreed with Leonhard's words.
“Now that I have arrived, it would be best to send Hereis to support the army.”
“It was already planned that way. On the sea you are far superior to Hereis, are you not?”
“Honored by your praise.”
Leonhard was confident that Hereis would excel even more in the army despite his sea skills as a former pirate.
Walter sketched the blueprint to crush Bluisol's army on both sea and land at once and advance all the way to the Empire.
“Hereis's role will be important.”
***
“Hoo-.”
Divine wiped his hands with a refreshed expression. The sight of several carriages speeding away from Ileang Castle formed a satisfied smile on his lips. Just then Nael, who had returned after distributing flyers inside the castle, tilted his head.
“What are you doing?”
“I worked hard on these flyers, so they must be spread far and wide.”
“That?”
“Yes.”
Divine's calm reply made Nael shake his head.
“Even if my superior scolds me, I don't care.”
“Oh, it's fine. The princess approved it.”
Nael waved the flyers he held.
“You said it was for the war, but I have no idea how these papers help.”
“That's because Nael is holding the sword while I hold the pen. Now I should go find the princess. Work hard!”
Divine, having confirmed the withdrawal of Nicolas's unit without Nicolas, went to find Jeanne. She was lost in thought alone after dismissing even Fabian.
“May I enter?”
“Ah, yes.”
Jeanne had allowed Divine entry earlier than expected. Divine sensed she wanted to share something.
“First, Nicolas's unit has fully withdrawn from Ileang Castle. The princess does not intend to stay here indefinitely. May I ask for your plans?”
Jeanne leaned back against the chair.
“I must think of the big picture. The enemy intends to use Bluisol as a stepping stone to invade the Empire. With only the current military, they cannot confront the Empire, so they will send reinforcements.”
“They stated their purpose from the very first letter they sent.”
“Moreover, after reaching La Rochelle the advance slowed. So they will surely send reinforcements from their homeland. I plan to ambush and block that support army.”
It was no mere guess. No one knew the war's situation better than Jeanne. The Rotinzel reinforcements were a 'definite event' she had learned through experience.
To Divine, who saw anew that Jeanne always possessed certainty in her decisions, he felt fresh admiration.
“The princess's spies are truly amazing. They are accurate and fast, as if they know exactly what will happen.”
“If I can foresee the future, do you believe it?”
“No. But if what the princess says makes sense, I will follow.”
“Good. Then tell me your plans. I will only grasp the big picture, so draw up the detailed strategy yourself.”
Jeanne spread the Bluisol war map. It was drawn in such detail that the enemy could never cross it.
Jeanne drew a single line from Plamont to La Rochelle with her finger. That was the route of the enemy's reinforcements heading toward the capital, known to her from her previous life.
She then pinned a small pin to one point on that line.
“My next target is Hereis Aden.”