9
—Just as General Ritziareite said, the battle was in its final stage.
“Lord Aldia, all hostile forces in the vicinity have been neutralized! The area is secure!”
“Thank you for the report. The cavalry will continue to guard the central square. Wait for the main army’s arrival, and cooperate with the left-flank soldiers to tend to the wounded.”
“Sir!”
With my orders given, Ritziareite and I turned our gaze in the same direction. Beyond the central square—Marquis Rigel was right in front of us.
“…Shall we go, General Ritziareite?”
“Yes. I’ll cover your back.”
We had to capture Marquis Rigel and bring him before Princess Valtrune. Because she is the one who will judge him, not me.
We saw enemy soldiers blocking our path, but we didn’t slow down.
“I’ll support you.”
“Please.”
Just the two of us. But with her at my side, there was no way we would lose to a mere crowd of soldiers.
“There’s only two of them! Kill them, quickly!”
Don’t underestimate us. You’ll regret that arrogance. I exchanged a glance with her, and she charged ahead. Her dragon stopped just short of the soldiers, reared up to show off its massive size, and let out a tremendous shriek.
“GYAAAAAAH…!”
“Hiii…!”
The soldiers trembled and turned their backs, trying to flee from the beast. Even if you know it’s a dragon, anyone would feel terror when faced with such a ferocious sight on the battlefield. And that hesitation would be fatal. I burst out from behind the dragon.
“——!”
The head of a soldier I’d cut down flew through the air.
“Haah…!”
I mowed down the soldiers near him in the same way. With grievous wounds to their limbs, sides, chests, and heads, the enemy soldiers collapsed in agony.
“Aah, my arm!”
“My eyes… I can’t see anything! Help… Gueh…!”
Hearing their screams, the remaining soldiers’ faces went pale. You have to create your own openings. People are creatures that will, without fail, show hesitation.
“Haah!”
Blood splattered my face, but I had no time to care. I focused on swinging my sword faster, even by a second, even by a single stroke. I eliminated all wasted motion and simply cut down the enemy before me.
“I’m going, too!”
Ritziareite also began to swing her spear, sending enemies flying.
“Wh-What are they…? Those two… they’re not human!”
“Hey, what do we do? Maybe we should just…?”
“Idiot, look at their eyes! They don’t look like they’ll spare us!”
“Monsters…”
…Being called inhuman isn’t so bad. For warriors like us, it was a compliment.
“General Ritziareite, let’s push through!”
“Right! Reinforcements are coming from behind! The main army will be here soon!”
We had cut down dozens of soldiers, opening a path. A mountain of corpses was piling up as our allies poured in behind us.
“Lord Aldia, we’re here to help!”
“Push forward!”
“General Ritziareite, all that’s left is to secure this area!”
The soldiers swarming in fought with courage and valor. At last, this battle was about to reach its end.
“Let’s cut them all down!”
Our swords and spears created a crimson road, built from blood spray and dying screams. The sound of metal clashing on metal rang out. The sound of magic exploding echoed from all around. It was a battle that produced many sacrifices and many feats of bravery… and at last, it met its end.
The enemy soldiers, led by Marquis Rigel, were squeezed by the Provisional Elite Corps’s encirclement, their numbers dwindling. At almost the same moment that she and I had cut down the last of the nearby soldiers, the enemy’s formation collapsed. Most of them were dead, and the few who remained began to choose surrender.
“Is this… is this the end?”
“It should be.”
Ritziareite wiped at her blood-stained uniform and pointed her spear to the sky.
“…That was a hard-fought battle.”
Many people died here. But their sacrifices were not in vain.
“General Ritziareite.”
I slowly held out my hand.
“The soldiers have finished fighting and are waiting for orders. Let’s go.”
“Yes!”
She took my hand, and we walked toward our troops.
“We did it! We won!”
“Hey, hey, don’t relax until the main army gets here.”
“But… our first battle… it was a huge success, right?”
“Yeah! A perfect outcome!”
From all around, the soldiers of the Provisional Elite Corps were raising cheers. The dispirited enemy soldiers were dropping their weapons, their faces blank.
“They’re certainly fired up.”
Ritziareite smiled as she watched them.
“We won. Our Provisional Elite Corps.”
“Yes. I’m so happy we won.”
With this, Ritziareite’s name would surely be known throughout the Empire. As the general who led the Provisional Elite Corps to victory, she had made a spectacular debut.
10
A soldier rushed up, breathless, bringing the good news I had been waiting for.
“Your Highness! Thanks to the efforts of Lord Aldia and General Ritziareite, Marquis Rigel has been apprehended!”
A sigh of relief escaped me. Oh, thank goodness.
“…What is the status of the other fronts?”
“Yes! The right flank, led by Lord Aldia, defeated their enemy quickly and is now working to maintain order. The left flank, led by General Ritziareite, split its forces. Half went to support the rear guard, while the other half came to support the main army.”
My own main army’s vanguard had swept through the city. It seems there was no need for me to step in. To think I could just watch from the rear… the army was even better than I’d expected.
“Your Highness, Marquis Rigel has been moved to the city’s central square. Shall we proceed?”
“Yes, the rear guard will enter the city with the vanguard. Flegel, send a report to the Imperial Court that we have won the battle… and tell them Marquis Rigel’s ‘status is unknown.’ Understood?”
I emphasized the last part. He didn’t question it, just nodded with his usual calm expression.
“Yes, Your Highness. I will do so.”
He catches on quickly. I’m grateful. There was a reason I’d left Rigel’s fate ambiguous. To me, he was simply an obstacle to be crushed. Normally, I would just have him subjected to the proper punishment and be done with it. But I have a subordinate who bears a deep hatred for him.
“Fadi.”
“Ma’am!”
“The time has come to fulfill my promise. Depending on his attitude… I would like to leave his ‘disposal’ to you. Will you accept?”
This wasn’t a question. It was payment for Fadi’s cooperation. He nodded, his face grim.
“Yes. I would be honored to take that responsibility.”
“Depending on his attitude”… I’d said it, but this was already decided. There was no way that arrogant Marquis would beg me for mercy. And even if he did, I wouldn’t grant it. With Fadi in tow, I led the rear guard forward. I didn’t know the full extent of the suffering he had endured at Rigel’s hands. That’s why I felt he was the one most suited to punishing the Marquis, not me.
“Fadi, how are you feeling?”
“…It’s hard to describe. It doesn’t feel real. I never dreamed the day I could deliver justice would come so soon.”
So that’s how it is.
“But it is real, now.”
“Yes. …Lady Valtrune, I am deeply grateful.”
This was simply a case of our interests aligning. I fully intended to have him work as hard as possible for me from now on.
“Don’t mention it.”
…I’ve changed. I’ve learned that kindness alone cannot save everyone. I’ve learned that sometimes, you must use people. It was all necessary for the future of the Empire. I was aware that I was ruining someone’s life with my own hands, but I couldn’t turn back now. Soldiers will always die in battle. That’s what war is. Regardless of the scale, it is, above all, an ugly thing.
“I’ll never get used to this. No matter how many times I experience it… it never feels good.”
I don’t like conflict, but there are times when it must be done. If I keep looking away, a far more undesirable outcome will be waiting. …It is precisely because I know that tragic future that I, a princess, am instigating this conflict. I don’t care if they call me a cruel princess. If this is the destiny I’ve been given, I am prepared to accept all the criticism, until my life is over. Besides… I have Aldia. He will stay by my side, no matter what.
“Aldia…”
As long as he is next to me, I can keep walking, forever. To seize the future I desire, I will continue on my own path of supremacy. With my beloved Personal Knight at my side, to the very end—
11
The capture of Marquis Rigel was laughably anticlimactic. The moment word got out that we had defeated that berserker and taken the central square, the battle was decided. The remaining soldiers, realizing they had no chance, threw down their weapons and surrendered. Those who resisted to the end were dealt with appropriately. I didn’t want to kill needlessly, but it couldn’t be helped. To honor those who stood against us, I cut them down head-on.
“Lord Aldia, we have complete control of the area!”
“Thank you. Now, check for any stragglers, and don’t forget to call for their surrender.”
“Sir!”
The entire area was under our control. The enemy soldiers had either defected or simply handed over Marquis Rigel. It was a relief not to have to fight for him.
“Damn you! Traitors! You’re all useless!”
…And then there was Rigel himself, currently bound and screaming. He still hadn’t grasped the danger of his situation and was still spitting insults. His audacity was incredible.
“Word has reached Lady Valtrune that the Marquis is in custody. She should be here soon.”
Ritziareite finished her report and glanced at Rigel. She frowned slightly.
“So… what do we do with him?”
“Shall we keep him company until Her Highness arrives?”
We walked over and stood in front of him. When he realized we were high-ranking officers, a filthy smile spread across his face.
“Hey, you two. …How about it? Care to join me? I’ll pay well. The Rigel domain is famous for its vast wealth, after all.”
“……”
“……”
“And if money’s not enough… how about women? For you, little lady, I’ll prepare the finest men. Hah, not a bad deal, is it?”
This is… well, it’s about what I expected… but he’s even worse than I imagined. Ritziareite was staring at him like he was garbage. She was silent, likely too furious to even speak. Deciding this was bad for her, I gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
“——!”
“General Ritziareite, please go give orders to the troops. I’ll handle this.”
She bowed her head, looking apologetic.
“I’m sorry. Thank you for your consideration.”
I understood why she was angry, seeing his complete lack of remorse.
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Thank you, that’s a great help. I’ll be going, then.”
She clearly wanted to get away from him. She walked off quickly.
“Tch, that woman… And after I offered her such a generous deal.”
He’s still talking… There is absolutely no chance of a dramatic reversal here. The square was completely occupied by our soldiers. We were also making progress in explaining the situation to the citizens. The lord’s crimes had been made public. I doubted a single person here would be willing to side with him.
“Hey, you, knight! Are you listening to me!?”
Oh, he was still talking. What a tiresome man. The thought of having to listen to his nonsense until the princess arrived was exhausting.
“Hah…”
“What’s with that sigh…!”
“Nothing. I just think… you should calmly consider the situation you’re in.”
“I am calm! This land will continue to prosper! So untie me, and let me go!”
…That’s ‘calm’? Or is he just an idiot? I couldn’t wait for her to arrive. I stared at the distant sky, forced to listen to Marquis Rigel’s endless, pathetic babble.
12
After about ten minutes of dealing with Marquis Rigel, I heard the sound of countless footsteps. With that many people, there was no doubt.
“Therefore, if you side with me, you’ll live a life of eternal happiness—!”
I turned away from the still-ranting Marquis and truly rejoiced at the arrival of my mistress.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
Princess Valtrune dismounted and walked slowly toward me, her troops in tow. She stopped in front of me and whispered in my ear.
“Thank you, Aldia. You are the best Personal Knight I could ask for.”
“——!”
She saw my shoulders jump and gave me a gentle smile. This was a reward greater than anything else. If she was happy, then all the effort was worth it. She walked past me and stood before Marquis Rigel.
“How does it feel, now that your desperate struggle has failed?”
“You little whelp…”
“And you, Marquis, lost to that ‘little whelp.'”
She forced the cruel reality on him, but he still refused to accept his defeat.
“Hmph! A brat like you… You can’t even do anything on your own.”
Rigel continued his provocations. She let out a deep sigh. Then, Princess Valtrune beckoned to someone behind her. I knew who it was, but the Marquis just watched suspiciously.
“I’m actually glad you show no remorse. It means I won’t have to feel guilty.”
Princess Valtrune smiled. Perhaps sensing the true emotion behind it, beads of sweat broke out on Rigel’s forehead. He finally senses the danger? A little late for that.
“Wh-What are you going to do!?”
“Oh, I’m not going to do anything. I’m just leaving your fate to someone else.”
She called a man from behind her to stand in front of the Marquis. Rigel’s expression froze, and he began to tremble.
“Y-Y… You…!”
The person who appeared was Fadi, the man who held a deep-seated grudge against him.
“It’s been a while. …You’ve ‘taken care’ of me for so long. I’m just here to return the favor.”
His tone was calm, but his eyes held not a trace of kindness. They were filled with pure, cold cruelty.
“You bastard! Have you forgotten what you owe me? I lent you money!”
“Owe you? Oh, right… You’re talking about the debt with the impossibly high interest you forced on me. Thanks to you, my life was just about ruined.”
Fadi spat the words, his voice thick with resentment. If he hadn’t met Princess Valtrune, his life would have been terrible.
“But you paid off the debt! You have no reason to hate me!”
“Idiot. I only paid it off because Lady Valtrune paid it for me. If it weren’t for her, I’d still be taking on brutal assassination jobs just to pay you back.”
Fadi glared at Rigel and threw a knife.
“…Buegh!”
It embedded itself perfectly in Rigel’s right shoulder.
“Does it hurt? The people whose lives you ruined… they felt much worse!”
Rigel clutched his shoulder, his face crumpling as if he were about to cry. But Fadi’s cold, hard expression didn’t change.
“On behalf of all the people you’ve tormented, I’m going to give you the punishment you deserve. Get ready.”
“Hieee…!”
As Rigel shrieked, Princess Valtrune turned away, a satisfied look on her face. She took my arm, a clear sign that she was leaving the rest to Fadi. I nodded silently and glanced one last time at the Marquis. “Help me!” His pathetic face seemed to scream it. His mouth moved, as if trying to say he was the victim. But no help is coming for him.
“Fadi. His fate is in your hands…”
“Thank you, Lady Valtrune.”
“It’s fine.”
Normally, a captured noble should be brought before the Emperor. But we had fought with all our strength. In a battle like that… was there really any ‘leisure’ to take him alive? It was certainly possible that, in the chaos, Marquis Rigel was ‘unavoidably killed.’ Knowing this, Princess Valtrune spoke in a deliberately loud, clear voice.
“Come, Aldia. Let’s return. We have a victory to celebrate.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
A man who had spent his life making enemies would find no one to save him.
“W-Wait, please! I’m innocent! I was just asked to do those illicit things! I swear I never wanted to!”
“Is that so?”
“Y-Yes! I swear it on the Emperor’s name! So please, won’t you help me?”
He was trying to spill all his secrets at the last minute, but it was useless. With her back still turned to Rigel, Princess Valtrune smiled, looking genuinely delighted.
“…’Asked,’ you say? By whom, I wonder?”
“B-By agents from the Reshfeld Kingdom! I was used! Help me! I’ll never do it again! I’ll give you my full support, Your Highness! I’ll back your claim to the throne! So please…!”
The Princess Valtrune of the past might have shown mercy, even to a petty villain like him. But the woman she was now… was different.
“Marquis Rigel.”
“——!”
“You have served the country well, up to now.”
“…Th-Then!”
With a radiant smile, Princess Valtrune spoke in a crystal-clear voice.
“—Yes, thank you for all your hard work. Your role… is over now, isn’t it?”
Her cruel words plunged Rigel from his hopeful high back into the depths of hell. His face twisted in terror.
“Ah… Ah… AAAAAAAHHH!!”
How foolish. As if you’d ever be saved.
“Aldia, please begin preparations for our return.”
“As you command, Your Highness.”
We turned our backs on Marquis Rigel.
“No, no! Wait, help me! Help me—!”
“Goodbye. Now, atone for your crimes with your life.”
With those final words, he was dragged away by Fadi’s subordinates.
‘Marquis Gangr von Rigel.’
He vanished from the public stage after the battle in his own territory. He had, after an all-out confrontation with the Provisional Elite Corps, ‘died a heroic death in battle.’ That was the unchangeable record, the official truth, of this battle.
He had played his role as ‘Marquis Rigel’ to the very end. For that, at least, he deserved praise. And, at the same time, I was grateful. Without this battle, Princess Valtrune would not have gained this renown. That’s why, I wanted to say just one thing. As a necessary foundation for the future Princess Valtrune desires…
—Thank you for your hard work as our all-important stepping stone.
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