Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: The Grand Duke's Heir Has Run Away
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[A room adorned with portraits.]
"Braam has declared war on the Lobros Kingdom!"
Military heralds galloped through Kara on horseback, spreading the joyous news everywhere. With the Lobros Kingdom launching a full-scale invasion of the Great Desert, Braam could no longer stand idly by and had declared war.
Braam commanded its own forces of six thousand, and adding the twenty-two thousand from its allied factions brought their total strength to a formidable twenty-eight thousand. They were a powerful city-state.
Though they had been enemies in the past, they were now comrades in the same boat as Kara. To Kara's citizens, this was nothing short of great fortune—a beacon of hope.
"Little brother. Braam has declared war on the Lobros Kingdom."
My sister Armida, back from outside, shared the latest on the warfront. Her slightly excited tone suggested she'd fallen for the Kara military's propaganda.
"Yeah."
"But weren't Braam and the Lobros Kingdom on the same side?"
"Yeah. They were."
"So why are they fighting?"
"Braam's not stupid. Sticking with them now would just prove they're suckers."
In the past, Braam had joined hands with the Lobros Kingdom to leverage their support in attacking Kara. Subjugating Kara was essential to realizing their fervent dream of building a Great Desert kingdom.
They had planned to strike Kara together, with the allied Lobros Kingdom committing a massive force of 150,000. If it had been just twenty thousand, they might have welcomed their "comrades" with open arms. But 150,000 combat troops on paper? That changed everything. The ploy was obvious.
Honestly, to take down Kara's four thousand troops, why bring 150,000 soldiers? It screamed an intent to swallow the entire Great Desert.
Moreover, the Lobros Kingdom publicly boasted that their forces numbered a million. It was a blatant threat to the whole desert.
"Still, it's good for Kara. If they team up with Braam, we've got a shot, right?"
That would hold true if they pooled their full strength. Braam and its allies had twenty-eight thousand. Kara had four thousand of its own plus seven thousand allies, totaling eleven thousand.
Combined, that made around forty thousand troops.
Plus, nearly all Sika tribesmen were cavalry or camel riders.
Factoring in that cavalry and camel troops equaled ten regular infantry in combat power, their forty thousand effectively matched four hundred thousand foot soldiers on paper. Even with the Lobros Kingdom's formidable mana knights, geographic advantages and defensive strongholds made it winnable.
"Sure, if those forty thousand were intact. But they'll be lucky to scrape together ten thousand."
"Why?"
"That's Duke Bastain's style. He starts wars by cutting off limbs first. Soon, most of Braam's allies will flip to the Lobros side."
"Aw, come on. They're all Sika tribesmen, aren't they? Brothers bound by blood—would they really side with invaders?"
"The neighbor's brother is often hated more than a distant one. They've been right next door, grinding each other's gears. Of course they hate each other. And sure, they're 'Sika brothers,' but to them, it's just Braam folk versus Kara folk. Same skin color, but blood enemies all the same."
The Great Desert had been fractured for ages. Just as Kara and Braam clashed, neighboring powers fought, and trade, nomadic, and farming factions spilled blood over interests.
This division had festered for thousands of years. Old grudges wouldn't wash away easily.
Unlike Kara, Braam's allies were more vassals than equals. With the Lobros Kingdom wooing them with lavish gifts, holding the alliance together was nigh impossible.
I stood up.
"By the way, sis. Where's Shura? She went out with you earlier."
"Oh, Shura? She went with the chieftain's procession."
I frowned.
"What?"
"Lately, Kara's chieftain's been making rounds to rally the people. We ran into them on the street by chance, and the chieftain invited Shura to the palace. Seems they're close."
Irritated, I headed for the door.
"Sis. I'm stepping out for a bit."
"Where to?"
"To fetch Shura."
"What, you need to escort her? She'll come back on her own later."
"Got a good reason. Be back soon."
"Alright. Hurry back."
I headed straight out.
Lately, Shura had been acting up. I'd warned her against bad company, but she wouldn't listen. That's why quiet girls turning wild are the scariest.
Guess I'd have to pull her onto my lap and give her a good spanking today.
"This way, please."
Following the guard's lead, I entered the palace. They let me in so easily, it felt like I had a free pass to the chieftain's quarters.
Red flag. Favors always come with strings. I worried what Padila might demand, using this escort as leverage.
"Please wait here, and Her Highness the Chieftain will come shortly."
Perfect—she was coming. Time to grill her properly while we met.
"Got it."
I sat in a reception room chair by the table, waiting for Shura.
While waiting, I heard maids passing outside, laughing cheerfully. The mood was upbeat over Braam's alliance news.
Hope was good. Who knew how long it'd last, but enjoying the moment wasn't bad.
Soon, Padila arrived with Shura.
"Grand Duke's Heir. Welcome. I was hoping to see you."
Her greeting made me frown. Now she was calling me Grand Duke's Heir outright.
"Come sit."
Padila gripped Shura's hand tightly and sat before me. Beaming, she spoke.
"Grand Duke's Heir. Have you heard the news?"
"What?"
"We've allied with Braam."
"Yeah, I heard."
"Now we have a real chance. No—we'll definitely repel the Lobros Kingdom's army."
I kept a blank face. Normally, I'd have spat that they had no chance, only doom ahead. But seeing Padila's bright smile, the words stuck in my throat.
She was one who'd shown me kindness in the Age of Ruin. It softened my heart; I couldn't be harsh.
"So?"
"That's why I'm asking. When we win, will you accept my invitation?"
Padila blushed and averted her gaze after speaking. It seemed to take real courage, though I couldn't fathom why.
"If you win, sure."
Then the reception room door burst open as Rajal rushed in.
"Your Highness! Disaster!"
"Chief Commander! We have a guest—what's all this commotion!"
Padila's voice boomed through the room as Rajal urgently reported.
"Ealsar Chieftain has been granted a viscountcy and sworn loyalty to the Lobros King."
It had finally begun. Ealsar commanded three thousand troops as the Great Desert's second western plains power. Located at the southern coastal edge, they'd pursued independence from desert influences. Their defection spelled doom for desert holdouts against Lobros.
Braam was now attacked from both sides.
"How could Ealsar Chieftain...?"
"Details are unclear, but it seems Lobros lifted all limits on maritime trade with Ealsar."
Ealsar's staples were crops and salted seafood. Unrestricted imports could hurt Lobros southern nobles profiting from agriculture and fishing, so trade had been tightly capped until now.
Duke Bastain had likely bought their loyalty by removing those limits.
'Duke Bastain. Snagged Ealsar for free.'
Removing trade limits was a natural perk of Ealsar's allegiance. No reason to restrict trade with your own territory.
The duke had probably thrown in tariff abolition too.
Padila paced anxiously and stood.
"Gr— I mean, Master. We'll talk later."
"Yeah. Go handle it—it looks urgent."
As Padila hurried off, I stared pointedly at Shura.
"See?"
"Yes..."
"Hang with bad influences, and we go down with them. I've told you a million times—Kara can't be saved."
"But you said before that it could be done."
"Sure, plenty of ways. Problem is, they can't. Hell, if Sister Armida stepped up, Kara'd be saved. Pressure Lobros through churches worldwide. But she can't—Sky City Chronos rules bar Valkyries from worldly meddling."
"True, but..."
"Same with Kara. They could defend themselves but won't—thanks to societal rules."
Kara's population totaled 240,000. Add uncounted slaves and retainers, and it swelled further.
Lobros's 150,000 troops couldn't all target Kara. Supply lines via demon trade routes were hell, and they needed rear guards. At most, fifty thousand could attack Kara.
If every citizen united for total war, they'd hold. But societal rules blocked it. Warriors from elite castes fought; commoners just obeyed the class system.
Arming commoners meant sharing power—might equaled authority.
But why should I help? The elite cling to privileges, marching to ruin—why risk my neck for them? Absurd.
In the Age of Ruin, things differed. Nobles like me and slave soldiers were equals, comrades fighting side-by-side. We ate, slept, crossed blades together.
That's why we were stronger than anyone.
"It's just..."
"Kara falls not because we ignore it, but their own laws and morals. Don't meddle."
I grabbed Shura's wrist firmly and pulled her along.
"Master?"
"Let's go."
"Please hear me out."
"Later. Home. Now."
Even as I fumed, Shura resisted fiercely.
"Then detour somewhere before we go."
"Where?"
"The place Padila figured out your identity at a glance."
That piqued my interest. Padila had glimpsed me as a child—how'd she spot me now, disguised and masked?
After a moment's thought, I nodded.
"Fine. Lead on."
Shura guided me to a room. Two maids cleaning the hallway corridor bowed politely to her and stepped aside.
"Come in."
As Shura opened the door, I saw a small but opulent room bathed in soft sunlight.
My body froze like ice. The walls were covered in portraits—of me.
"What are these portraits?"
"Ones Padila collected. She commissioned Karl territory artists who painted you."
The portraits chronicled my life: cocky child poses, school uniform shots, poised post-graduation from the Imperial Noble Academy. Most from the Karl estate hung here.
A recent one too: me leaning against a tree, mask slightly lifted, in local Kara style.
Scanning them, I glanced sideways at Shura.
"Why's Padila collecting my portraits?"
"Because she likes you, Master."
I blinked, uncomprehending.
"You don't mean...?"
"Yes. She even said she'll confess after the war ends."
I yelped like I'd been shocked.
"No way! I only saw Padila once as kids!"
"That one day was more precious to her than any time."
"Isn't this a con? Scammers put in this much effort."
"Master!"
Despite Shura's insistence, I couldn't believe it. Only my late mother had truly loved me. Sure, Shura liked me now, but female elves naturally bonded that way—no big deal.
'Does she really like me?'
Reviewing Padila's actions past and present, I couldn't deny it. She'd saved me multiple times in my previous life, died in my arms at the end. Same here—if not affection, how else explain this room?
"Maybe it's obsession?"
"Master!"
This was mortifying. Felt good, but awkward—I squirmed, unused to it.
'Fine. I'll save a few she cares about.'
[A room adorned with portraits.] End