13 (61)

“That is correct. The matter you requested makes no sense whatsoever. You want to use my soldiers in war? That is absurd. Even the former king could not do such a thing, and there has never been a case in the history of the Duchy of Eron where troops were demanded in this manner.”

“They are necessary for the operation.”

“I refuse.”

The atmosphere hardened. Killing intent poured out from Louis. Phillipeu James had brought many people with him, but in this pinch, there was no ally who would save him. He had to escape on his own. He gritted his teeth. Louis said nothing. Phillipeu James knew that he had to say something more. Alarms rang wildly in his seasoned instincts. They were warnings of death. He spoke.

“You cannot force me. As I told you, even my ancestors never faced such a thing.”

Louis grabbed his shoulder. Phillipeu James was also a fairly well-trained swordsman, but his shoulder was seized far too easily. His eyes went round. He instinctively drew out his mana, but Louis’s mana bound him. Then he was pressed down. The signal that he would die grew stronger and stronger until it shook his head. The thought flashed through Phillipeu James’s mind that this man intended to kill him here if he did not hand over his army.

It could make sense, or it might not. The thought that Louis was a usurper brought about a decisive change in his heart. He knelt. No, he was forced to kneel. It was humiliating, but at the mana that suddenly vanished, he felt relief that he had survived.

“Remember this. I am not included in that category.”

He had brought a crowd of people for this very moment. Someone should have shouted at the king and become angry for him, but no one did. It was quiet. That shocked Phillipeu James. It was the moment a crack ran through a solid alliance.

“Stand.”

Phillipeu James barely stood up.

“You have two choices left.”

Louis cut off his words, and silence fell in every direction. Just as everyone wondered what he would say, Louis spoke.

“You may either lead your troops as they are and try attacking me, or entrust them to me. Answer here. Do you truly think that is possible?”

Louis looked into Phillipeu James’s eyes. Phillipeu James was overwhelmed.

“…”

“Then say it now. Will you hand them over? If not…”

Louis’s hand moved to his waist. It was a small movement, but what it meant was clear. Phillipeu James thought of Vesk. Now that he no longer had the strength to resist, at least in this moment, he spoke.

“I… I will do it.”

Louis turned his head. The approval for the dispersed troops could not be fully transferred by Phillipeu James’s approval alone. The approval of the core nobles who had followed Phillipeu James was also necessary.

“What about you? Marvin. You speak first.”

“O-of course.”

“Since Marquis James has approved it, I will follow him as well.”

Among those who approved one after another, no one refused.

That evening, they gathered secretly with Phillipeu James at their head. Phillipeu James spoke in a haggard voice.

“The king will certainly not return all the soldiers to us. Looking at his actions, that is only natural. Everyone who opposed him was ruined. We will soon become the same.”

The shortest man among the six spoke.

“Are you not thinking too greatly of this?”

“No. His Lordship is right. We will become like that too.”

“That cannot be. Without us, the capital will be paralyzed at once.”

“He is not someone who would keep such a thing in mind.”

“He is only capable in war.”

“For that, the policies he has carried out until now have been innovative. And they were very efficient. If only Duke Christopher had not committed such an act…”

“Can he win the war?”

“The god of war. For him to win is…”

The marquis clapped once at that moment. The various conversations suddenly broke off midway. Every gaze gathered on Phillipeu James. After coughing several times, he opened his mouth.

“What you do not know is… that the outcome of the war is unknown.”

“What do you mean?”

“I have observed Vesk for a long time. There were many aspects of his behavior that seemed incomprehensible at first glance. Since every spy I sent often went missing, the final piece of the puzzle did not fall into place, but not long ago, after the king struck Vesk, everything became clear. Hm… behind Vesk is an incredible person. Perhaps… someone on the level of the leader of the black mages…”

“What? Was it not Duke Christopher?”

The one who opened his round eyes wide was Marvin.

“That is right, nominally it is him. But no…”

“His daughter…”

“She is bait. From what I saw, at any rate, the two attempts, especially the second assassination attempt, involved assassins of such a tremendous level that many Sword Expert-level knights were killed. Judging from that… if we lose in the war, there will be no after.”

“Then is it not right for us to cooperate actively?”

Marvin cut in.

“Cooperate! Even if the war ends as it is, if they do not return our troops! We will have no choice but to shrink back. There will be no prosperity like before!”

“We have already approved it, so what do you expect us to do?”

“Obviously, we must attack the castle, attack the king!”

“What nonsense.”

“We have enough troops. If we push in like this…”

“I have no intention of going that far! If it proceeds that far, I am out. A rebellion, of all things!”

The one wearing a brown tunic shouted that. It was Leon Burt.

“You are saying you will back out now? What shameless nonsense is this? Do you not have even a rat’s tail of honor left?”

“You, who were the first to approve transferring troops to the king, are in no position to speak of honor.”

“How dare you! You side with the usurper!”

Marvin finally drew his sword. The tip of the sword pointed at Leon Burt. Burt also had no intention of staying still. He drew his sword in return, and in an instant, they were in a standoff. It was a dizzying situation where blood might flow. Phillipeu James had to choose. However, it was a conclusion he had already made to some extent.

“All of you… stop! What foolishness is this!!!”

“Tch…”

“Even if we launch an all-out attack with the troops we have, we cannot defeat King Louis. I felt it. The king had already made some kind of preparations. Otherwise, they could not have looked at me with those eyes in front of him.”

The secret meeting ended like that.

Louis looked at the beautiful sight before him. Linsia was sitting on his thighs and teasing him with a seductive expression.

She behaved boldly and tried to entice him. Louis was strongly drawn to her, and the two spent an intimate time together.

After some time passed, Linsia grew exhausted. She still tried to satisfy Louis, but eventually she slipped away with a smile and made a signal.

As expected, the cloth was lifted, and women began entering. There were women slaves he had received recently, and there were also slaves he was seeing for the first time. Their bodies were barely covered in silk cloth. Their chest sizes, heights, gestures, and faces were all different, but what mattered was that each of them was a beauty capable of stirring a man’s desire.

“Hehe.”

“…”

“Please use them to fully release the desire you have left.”

“I would rather do it with you, Linsia.”

“I apologize… but I am too tired now…”

She smiled brightly and quickly slipped away. It took only a few seconds for her to leave, and just as Louis was slightly surprised by her swiftness, the women kneeling in front of him began to remove their clothes.