Crushing the Cluiston House (3)
I took a small detachment of soldiers and rode out to scout a vantage point overlooking Harmel Castle. “So that’s the place.”
Harmel Castle was less a true fortress and more a village built around the lord’s residence. Like most small and mid-sized southern territories, its walls were not built of solid stone. Instead, a low stone barrier roughly two meters high encircled the grounds, with a dense wooden palisade erected just beyond it.
“They’ve already barred the gates tight, knowing we’ve arrived,” Madame Marte remarked as she gazed at the castle beside me.
“Pathetic, really. That gate would crumble after a few solid knocks. And to think they intend to hold out against our Grand Lord with such flimsy defenses—how admirable their courage must be. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“Of course,” I replied, shrugging as I studied the castle. Our army had surrounded Harmel the moment we arrived. The enemy offered no resistance, as though they had already lost the will to fight, and the encirclement had been effortless. All that remained was to let the men rest after their long march and then storm the castle once their strength returned.
My eyes burned with fury. Those bastards had dared to kidnap Unia. The thought that she was trapped inside filled me with rage and impatience. I wanted to rescue her as quickly as possible. I also wondered what had become of Sohee.
Once Unia was safe, not a single member of the Cluiston family would be spared. They would all be executed—brutally, disgustingly so. Machiavelli had written in The Prince that a ruler must not shy away from wickedness if it served the realm. If the country prospered, any deed would be praised and the ruler hailed as great. I had never understood those words in peacetime, but now that lives were at stake, their meaning was clear.
A ruler could not live like an ordinary man. That was why, even though I loved Dana, I still intended to sire a child with Princess Irene. The Richard line would not end here. As its founder, I would bear the burden and ensure the family flourished for generations. But first, I had to rescue Unia.
If we attacked immediately, the cornered Cluiston forces might kill her in desperation. To guarantee her safe return, I needed to offer negotiations before the battle began. It was regrettable, but unavoidable.
I turned my horse and rode back to camp. Since we had only just arrived at Harmel, the soldiers were busy pitching tents. They dug trenches around the perimeter and felled trees to build palisades. The captains selected a hundred men, divided them into five rotating units, and ordered them to patrol the castle walls day and night. From now on, no one would enter or leave Harmel Castle. Lord Cain, his retainers, and the citizens were rats caught in a trap.
Inside an open tent, Olmati was directing soldiers as they furnished what would become my office. Haida and Evynee were unpacking crates of teacups, plates, and bottles, arranging them on shelves.
“Olmati.”
“Ah, Grand Lord. How was the reconnaissance?”
Olmati hurried over, his portly frame moving with surprising speed.
“Send a letter to Lord Cain proposing a meeting. No time to waste—suggest we meet immediately. Here, in our camp.”
“Would that not reveal our strength?”
“That’s the point. If he lacks the courage to fight, he should lay down his arms and surrender at once.”
“Heh, as expected of the Grand Lord. A brilliant stratagem! Hehehe.”
Olmati hurried off to dispatch the letter. While I chatted with Haida and Evynee and tidied the office, Epibia arrived. She still wore her work clothes, and a smear of black tar marked her cheek.
“I would like you to come with me.”
“Where to?”
“I have something amazing to show you. I made it because I wanted the Grand Lord to see it. I finished it today. It is quite a surprising thing.”
“Surprising?”
“Yes, a surprising thing.” She beamed, her face bright with excitement.
“What is it?”
Tilting my head, I followed her. As the weapons officer, she had recently invented all manner of curious devices—small things, but clever. Buttons on sword hilts that sprayed water to clean blood from the blade, glider-like wings for short glides from high places, lightweight shields. I expected another oddity, but the moment I saw it, my eyes widened.
“W-what is this?”
“Ta-da! A siege engine!”
Before me stood an enormous crossbow the size of a tank.
“I prepared it in haste for the siege we must soon undertake!”
She ordered soldiers to draw the massive string. Four men strained to pull it back and secure it, then loaded a huge log. The tip of the log had been carved into a peculiar shape—rounded and flared like the head of a man’s member.
I scratched my head. “That… looks like a penis, doesn’t it?”
“Precisely! I modeled it after the Grand Lord’s own!”
“What? Mine? How?”
Her confident tone left me speechless.
“When did you even see it?”
“Lady Dana gave me a detailed description!”
“Good heavens.” When had those two plotted this?
“It is meant to convey the Grand Lord’s fearsome might to our enemies…”
“To inform them.”
“Yes, to inform them. That was the inventor’s intent. Hehe.”
Epibia grinned like a mischievous uncle—actually, exactly like a lecherous old man.
“Why a phallus of all things?”
“We dwarves have long believed that keeping a phallic statue in the home brings good fortune and ensures all endeavors proceed smoothly.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“You doubt it? Behold its power. I will make you believe. I shall smash everything with the Grand Lord’s manhood.”
Epibia stepped up to the trigger. Roughly a hundred meters away stood a two-meter stone wall built to resemble Harmel’s defenses.
“Here it goes!”
She pulled the long lever inward, and with a heavy thunk, the massive log hurtled forward. It obliterated the stone wall and continued flying another fifty meters beyond. The destructive force was immense—capable not only of breaching walls but of slaughtering men as well.
“What do you think?”
Epibia’s eyes sparkled with anticipation. I ruffled her hair as one might pet an eager puppy and gave her a thumbs-up.
“I’m not fond of the projectile’s shape, but it’s magnificent. With this, taking Harmel Castle will be child’s play. Well done, Epibia.”
“Th-then, a kiss on the back of my hand, please! I worked so hard, so reward me!”
She shyly extended her hand, the plump fingers trembling slightly. I pressed my lips to it without hesitation. She nearly jumped for joy, then declared she would name the siege engine Richardi and the projectile Great Cannon. I did my utmost to dissuade her, warning her again and again never to use such names. Yet later, after I left, rumor reached me that the weapons crew had secretly settled on Richardi and Great Cannon under Epibia’s leadership.
“I really ought to take Epibia to Seoul someday…”
As punishment for the unauthorized naming, I decided to give her sideburns a firm tug the next time we met.
***
“With the return stone, they cannot hold me hostage.”
At dusk, Eidan arrived at the Richard camp accompanied by ten soldiers. Entering the enemy’s main camp unarmed was dangerous, but he had smeared his blood on the return stone inside Harmel Castle. As long as he remained within a five-kilometer radius, the stone would summon him back exactly two hours later. With that insurance, he had no reason to fear capture.
They probably would not kill him. If they did, the return stone would be useless. Still, according to Unia, Lord Richard was a benevolent man who could be reasoned with. Eidan chose to trust that reputation.
As expected, the Richard forces outnumbered his own more than twofold, and their equipment was formidable. Eidan and his men rode through the camp, doing their best to appear unafraid beneath the soldiers’ fierce stares. They held their chins high to project confidence.
“Follow me.”
Guided by an officer, Eidan was led to the tent where Lord Richard awaited. Inside sat the imposing Lord Richard, and beside him, radiant even without adornment, sat his wife Dana—elegant, noble, and dazzling like a priceless jewel.
Good heavens! Such a beautiful woman exists! Did my brother know? How on earth did he find her? Any man would covet a beauty of that caliber!
Eidan gaped in admiration at Dana’s looks, then found himself equally astonished by Lord Richard’s appearance.
So the rumors of him being a foreigner were true. He really does look different from us.