To Crush the Cluiston House (1)
“Our territory will more than double in size. Hahaha.”
“Lowell, I’m sorry to keep pouring cold water on your plans, but I simply cannot trust the Cluiston family. They are clearly trying to use us to escape their predicament.”
Lord Loweldriger replied as he accepted the plate his wife handed him.
“Don’t worry. I am not such a naive lord. If Lord Cain breaks his promise later, I’ll smash the Cluiston house to pieces myself.”
“This is not some childish game. If you take it lightly—”
“Mother. If you’re going to treat me like a child, then please just eat your meal in silence.”
Lord Loweldriger cut off Madam Chettley’s words.
“Lanchester Castle is completely empty right now. We could take it with just our soldiers. What kind of fool would pass up such an opportunity? What exactly do we have to fear? If I raise my army, my father-in-law, Lord Usheril, will surely help us. We have reliable reinforcements.”
“Lord Richard is still alive and well. If they turn back and return to Lanchester Castle, this war will drag on, and how do you intend to sustain it with our current finances?”
“All the better. With our Metis forces, the Cluiston army, and the Herrera army combined, we could surround Lanchester Castle and bring it down in a day or two.”
Libilla chimed in with a smile.
“While we sit here hesitating, Lord Richard will defeat Lord Cain, and his power will grow like a snowball. By then, we won’t be able to handle him. We must strike first before we’re the ones attacked, Mother.”
“Who asked for your opinion?”
Madam Chettley’s expression as she looked at her daughter-in-law was as cold as ice. She turned back to her son.
“Suppose the three houses surround and capture Lanchester Castle. What if Lord Cain, whose forces remain intact, changes his mind afterward? You know full well that he is not in his right mind.”
“Mother.”
Loweldriger wore a frustrated look and changed the subject.
“You worry too much. Please listen to your son for once. I am the lord now. The days when Father was lord are over. This is the era where Libilla and I lead our territory.”
“So you’re treating me like some senile old woman who can’t tell shit from piss?”
“That’s not what I meant. I’m saying leave the territory’s management to me and step back. I am the lord.”
“I will continue to make sure my son walks the right path. If something is wrong, I will say it is wrong. Until the day I die.”
“That role belongs to Libilla.”
“Your wife alone is not enough.”
Madam Chettley’s face was resolute. She glanced at Libilla.
“Don’t even think about kicking this meddlesome, useless old woman out of the castle. I will never leave of my own accord.”
Having been ignored by her son, Madam Chettley set down her knife and fork in anger and rose from her seat.
“I’ve eaten well. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Loweldriger turned away with a sullen expression, ignoring his mother’s farewell. But his wife Libilla stood and bowed respectfully.
“Rest well, Mother.”
“You should stop wearing that disgusting mask too. If you hate me, say so outright like that boy. Don’t act like a sly fox.”
“Mother!”
Loweldriger shouted and sprang to his feet.
“How could you say that to Libilla!”
“Remember, the only one on your side is me.”
After shooting a sharp remark at her son, Madam Chettley left the dining hall. Cyrilla had no choice but to follow her, but her feet would not move easily. She lingered in the dining hall, carefully watching Lord Loweldriger’s actions.
After sitting in silence with an angry expression for a while, Lord Loweldriger summoned the knight commander and gave his orders.
“I have decided to attack Lanchester Castle. Take the soldiers immediately and arrest Lord Richard’s envoy.”
“Yes, as you command.”
‘No!’
Cyrilla felt as though fire had been lit beneath her feet. She hurried out of the dining hall and pounded on Pasvachio’s door.
When the door opened, Pasvachio emerged. He smiled brightly the moment he saw her.
“Finished with work?”
“This is no time for that! You need to run away right now!”
“What do you mean?”
“His Lordship has decided to attack Lanchester Castle. The knights are on their way to capture you as we speak. Hurry and escape!”
“What?!”
Pasvachio rushed back into the room to gather his important belongings. While keeping watch anxiously in the corridor, Cyrilla was suddenly overcome with worry.
“U-um, how will we stay in contact from now on? How can we reach Lord Richard?”
“Rather than that, the real problem is whether we can even leave this city safely. Is there anywhere we could hide until things quiet down?”
“A place to hide…”
Cyrilla was reluctant to let Pasvachio and his companions go before they could meet Lord Richard. So she thought of the home of an acquaintance she was on good terms with.
“Please follow me.”
***
In the middle of the night, under the light of torches, I entered the massive conference tent under Mateus’s escort. When Dana and I stepped inside, Olmati, Ristein, Princess Irene, Madame Marte, and the heads of the Coldstone, White, Pilscride, and Iron houses—who were serving as unit commanders and adjutants in this war—rose from their seats.
“Everyone, be seated.”
After taking my place at the head of the table with Dana, Olmati came to stand beside me with his usual “hehe,” while the staff officers and house heads all sat down in unison. Every one of the house heads looked uneasy, as though they had left their homes with the doors unlocked.
“There are rumors circulating in the rear that the Metis and Herrera houses are planning to attack our territory,” Baron White said, seizing the chance to speak first, and the others murmured in agreement.
Olmati waved his hands vigorously and shouted for silence.
“We gathered here precisely to discuss that matter! His Lordship will speak!”
But everyone ignored Olmati.
“We must turn the army around! A lord without territory is meaningless. Let us return before we lose it!”
“We should send letters of protest to the Metis and Herrera houses at once!”
“What if we show sincerity by sending the lady as an envoy and try to persuade the two houses properly?”
“Enough with envoys! We’ll only end up with more hostages!”
“Let us use Princess Irene’s influence and hold Lanchester Castle until His Majesty’s army arrives!”
Everyone was anxious. I raised my right hand, palm open. The noisy tent fell silent in an instant. With all eyes on me, I spoke with authority.
“Whether the rumors that the Metis and Herrera houses intend to attack us are true or not, I have no intention of wavering. Our army will advance as planned and reach Harmel Castle by tomorrow afternoon. That is my answer to your concerns.”
The moment I finished, sighs and murmurs filled the air.
“Our families left behind in Lanchester are in danger!”
“We must protect what we can while we still can!”
“Let us send letters to the Metis and Herrera houses proposing a peace treaty!”
Some looked gloomy or clicked their tongues, calling the young lord reckless, while others cheered and voiced their agreement. Paying little heed to their reactions, I declared my firm resolve.
“Whether we retreat or advance, blood will be shed in the end.”
At my continued words, the clamor died down as if the room had been struck silent.
“As you say, returning to Lanchester to take a defensive stance would be the correct choice, but doing so would hand the initiative to the enemy. Once we lose the initiative, victory cannot be guaranteed. However, if we attack Harmel Castle, the story changes. We will retain the initiative throughout the war.”
I paused briefly, sweeping my gaze over every face.
“Whether we submit as slaves or rise as the most powerful territory in the south depends on this choice. I choose to advance, not retreat. I declare that when this war ends, we will be reborn as the strongest and most feared power in the south.”
As I finished with solemn determination, silence fell over the tent, broken only by the sound of breathing.
“The strongest and most feared power…”
Olmati broke the silence. He clenched his fist and raised it high.
“Our Grand Lord Richard will soon become the ruler of the south! And those who fight valiantly for him will each become lords of their own territories!”
At those words, shouts of fierce resolve erupted from all around.
“I will follow our lord to Harmel Castle!”
“Me too! If a man draws his sword, he should at least cut something! How can we run back in fear? My wife would chase me out!”
“If we lose Lanchester, we’ll just take Harmel instead! What’s there to hesitate about?”
“Long live Grand Lord Richard!”
As Olmati raised both hands and shouted, the house heads all stood and cried out my name at the top of their lungs.
“Long live Grand Lord Richard! Long live the ruler of the south!”
With that, the mood had completely reversed. We would march all the way to Harmel Castle.
I smiled in satisfaction and turned to Dana sitting beside me. She met my eyes and gave a pleased smile, then gently took my hand.