Waves of Anxiety and Southern Ambitions
On the rocking ship, Jeanne drew her sword.
It was not enough that the seasickness would merely subside. On this vessel, she would need the same fighting prowess she had on dry land.
With the exception of Chastan, the rest of the crew had undergone training to adapt to life aboard ship. Chastan had been so severely seasick that he remained below deck resting.
“For now, it seems we cannot take Chastan aboard.”
“Indeed. With his current condition, he would be unable to fight at all.”
Fabian nodded in agreement with Jeanne’s words.
Kalen joined their conversation.
“The enemy galleys are faster than this one.”
“This one is fast enough. Even faster?”
“Yes. Their ships are smaller and more agile than our galleons, and in addition to sails they also use oars. In terms of speed, their vessels hold the advantage.”
Jeanne grew concerned. No matter how capable Duke Mathias was, naval superiority was absolute in any sea battle.
She turned to Kalen.
“Could we not build faster ships like the Rotinzel navy?”
“If we wanted to, we could build them, but they would not serve us well.”
“Why is that?”
“Their ships were designed for attack, while ours are built for defense. The primary goal is to prevent enemy landings, so there is no need to chase speed.”
Kalen continued without emotion.
“Moreover, Bluisol has abolished slavery. Oars are essential to their swift movement, and most of the rowers are slaves. With the manpower we have, it would be better to use them as soldiers instead.”
“Hmm.”
“If you believe their ships are superior, do not worry. Our ships also have their own advantages. Large size means greater stability, and they can carry more cannons, so our destructive power will far exceed theirs.”
The strengths and weaknesses of both sides were perfectly balanced. The side that maximized its advantages and minimized its weaknesses would hold the edge.
“The battle date you planned, Commander, is two days from now.”
Kalen spoke only with his lips, expression unchanging.
“If you cannot adapt by then, we cannot take you aboard. You each have your own positions to defend, and we have no room to coddle you.”
“Ha, I need no coddling! I will adapt on my own by then—owuk.”
Nael’s pride stung, and he leaned out the side of the deck. Ines sighed.
“Just keep your mouth shut.”
Jeanne surveyed the knights. Ines fared best, but the others were far from well. Ethan, especially, was far from his peak condition, though he endured for the sake of his dignity.
“Understood. I cannot help, but I will not cause trouble. I will adapt to this ship in two days however I can.”
Three days had passed since Jeanne’s encounter with Heirace in the Vörhen Gorge. Heirace handed over the reinforcements he had brought and greeted Aaron.
“It has been a long time, Baron Oden.”
“Welcome, Heirace.”
“I became a knight a few years ago. Do you still call me ‘Sir’?”
“Was it because I called you that that you felt offended?”
“It was not in that sense.”
“Hahaha, I have known you since you were young, so do not take it to heart.”
Heirace turned his gaze around him.
“Where is Lady Wisteria? I heard you were dispatched to Ileon, but…”
“She has fallen.”
“Ah.”
“I told you not to rush, yet you fought recklessly in the end.”
Aaron clicked his tongue, though no trace of sorrow appeared on his face.
“Were there so many enemy soldiers?”
Aaron shook his head.
“It was not much different from what we expected. Nicholas grew impatient after they cut off our supply lines and destroyed himself.”
Aaron’s role had also been crucial in allowing Jeanne to cut off the supply lines easily.
As political rivals of Nicholas, Aaron deliberately delayed supplies and withheld enough soldiers to guard them whenever Nicholas requested assistance.
Ultimately, Nicholas’s defeat could be attributed to Aaron and Nicholas’s blinded ambition to eliminate each other.
Aaron did not want to show his true colors to the naïve young Heirace, so he hid his malice and changed the subject.
“What of the southern side?”
“With Lord Flairen here, things should be fine. His Majesty sent truly many reinforcements.”
“What of the young lords of La Rochelle? Ask me that.”
“That…”
“While I have fought many battles, I have only a hunch. It does not feel right. I suspect every little thing will be an obstacle.”
“Even so, once you strike hard, it will be difficult to rise again. If you suffer another defeat at sea, you will have to fight on land and seize the entire La Rochelle duchy.”
Aaron nodded.
Afterward, one of his subordinates entered and set up tea and simple snacks. While Aaron devoured sweet cookies, Heirace sipped tea slowly. When Aaron gave him a meaningful look, Heirace slowly opened his lips.
“We were ambushed on the way.”
“Hmm. No matter how quickly we came, we left the remnants behind, yet the route from Plamont to Roire should have been cleared.”
“They were very few. At most, I doubt there were ten.”
“Did such a small force pose a threat?”
“Their numbers were few, but each one was excellent. At least mid-level knights or higher. And most importantly…”
Heirace recalled the battle on the cliff.
Blue hair fluttering in the wind, intense blue eyes. Even with half her face hidden by a mask, her bearing was unmistakable.
“The woman with blue hair who fought me…”
Heirace’s eyes grew hazy. Simply recalling her made him like this.
“The woman with blue hair?”
“Yes.”
Aaron asked Heirace again.
“Is it truly blue?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm, perhaps it was a mix of ash?”
“Huh? Now that you mention it, it does seem so. Ah, yes. Upon thinking again, silver was mixed in.”
“Hmm.”
Aaron let out an uneasy groan.
“Do you know who she is?”
“There are suspects, but…”
The woman who had set a trap in Roire and killed Nicholas was known to all soldiers for her blue hair tinged with ash. A member of the royal family was suspected, yet to attack Heirace as well…
Aaron took out a paper he had stored and shown it to him.
“The woman who ambushed you is this person.”
It was a wanted poster made and distributed by Divain. It had even spread to Rotinzel’s bases.
“It is impossible.”
The moment he saw the illustration on the poster, Heirace denied it strongly.
“What?”
“The woman I saw was elegant, dignified, agile, and composed. Most of all, she was beautiful. Not just a human weapon.”
The warrior in the picture was far more terrifying than simply a Barbarian.
“Moreover, look at the content. She received a severe shoulder wound but recovered in a day. It is clearly propaganda.”
“The shoulder wound is true. A messenger from Nicholas who had returned reported it. We do not know if she is fully healed.”
“The woman who attacked me was unharmed. If she was truly injured, she spread the report that she was unharmed out of fear that we might attack again.”
“That is also possible.”
Heirace shook his head, trying to dismiss thoughts of the woman, and stated his purpose in coming here.
“When will you plan another departure to Ileon?”
“Since you have come, you must leave soon.”
“I want to bring Bluisol to His Majesty’s throne as soon as possible.”
“Do not be too hasty. After all, victory is ours.”
The embassy set out from Aquitaine toward the Blesk Empire.
The scale was shabby for an embassy of a nation. Even that consisted of a single carriage carrying Princess Marie.
Marie opened the carriage window and waved. One of her attendants, who had been walking outside, approached.
“What is it?”
“Call Raphael. Tell him to come inside.”
The attendant, unable to defy the princess’s order, went to Raphael, who was mounted on a horse. As foreign minister, he was positioned far forward.
Raphael sighed as he approached Marie’s carriage.
“Why did you call me?”
“I am bored.”
“Does your lady-in-waiting not accompany you?”
“She is too quiet, so it is no fun. Come inside.”
Raphael sighed again quietly.
It was unthinkable for a man to enter the princess’s carriage, but he could not break her will.
Thinking of talking with a princess who had grumbled that if the empire was going she would go too and marry one of the imperial princes soon, Raphael was already tired.
“What is the empire like? The palace is probably much larger than Roire? Once I settle in the empire, I will remember you, Raphael.”
“The greater the expectations, the greater the disappointment.”
“What do you mean?”
“It means do not turn a blind eye to reality.”
Marie laughed.
“Do you think I do not know that?”
“What?”
“I am not a crown princess, nor a third prince’s consort. I know my position. I even expect to be treated as a princess of a fallen kingdom.”
Marie lowered her eyes. Her complexion darkened.
Then she lifted her head again and smiled confidently.
“You didn’t think I was going to the empire whining to be saved, did you?”
Only then did Raphael realize Marie had known everything and was pretending not to care.
“But even if the kingdom falls and I am treated as a burden and despised, it would be far better to be an invisible consort of the empire than to become the enemy’s prisoner.”
“Do you think this country will fall?”
“Well, I do not know. But I would not be much help staying in Bluisol.”
Marie giggled and fiddled with her hair unnecessarily.
“Once there, I will definitely capture the third prince. With my beauty, it will be easy! Jeanne only knows how to fight, so I will do that.”
At her words, Raphael chuckled.
‘An immature princess obsessed only with luxury.’
Marie had her own thoughts. Ambition too.
This was new to Raphael, so he listened quietly to her story.
“Anyway, even for my position, it is best that Bluisol does not fall. After finishing the work, when you return to the homeland, tell Jeanne to fight hard.”