Translator: Nox

Ch#214

214

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The scale of the Valto Militia was swelling by the day.

As young men, their hostility toward the Imperial Family reaching a breaking point, joined the rebel forces in succession, a massive army rivaling the Northern Noble Alliance had been organized in just a few short months.

It was the inevitable result of the indiscriminate looting and harsh military suppression carried out by the Imperial Army over the past few years.

“Filthy traitors!”

The Crown Prince, who had been forced into an ignominious retreat by the organized waves of attacks from the Amasec civic forces, slammed his helmet onto the ground, raving in a fit of rage.

Varkas lifted his gaze from the documents on his desk.

The Crown Prince, looking haggard from the aftermath of several days of grueling combat, was screaming as he kicked a table set in one corner of the tent.

“I swear to God, I’ll skin those vermin alive and hang them throughout the capital like banners! I’ll gouge out their eyes and rip out their tongues while they still breathe, then chop them into pieces to scatter as fertilizer across this gods-forsaken land! Just you wait, you curs!”

Varkas leaned back against his chair, calmly waiting for his cousin’s manic fit to subside.

As if his excitement had finally cooled, the man, who had been smashing every piece of furniture in the tent, slumped into a chair.

Seeing this, Varkas gave an instruction to the servant standing hesitantly at the entrance.

“Don’t just stand there. Pour His Highness a glass of chilled wine.”

“I don’t want it, so get out!”

The Crown Prince roughly pushed aside the servant who had hurried over to pick up the bottle, casting a fiery glare at Varkas.

“How can you look so composed? Do you find it amusing that I’ve suffered such humiliation?”

Varkas offered no response, simply picking up the goblet resting on his table.

As he moistened his lips with the wine, Gares suddenly bolted upright, snatched the goblet away, and hurled it into a corner of the tent. He then leaned toward Varkas menacingly.

“Why don’t you answer? I’m asking if you find my state amusing.”

“You have chosen the wrong target for your venting, Your Highness.”

Varkas looked up at him with an expressionless face.

“Is this how you treat the man who traveled a long distance to clean up this mess?”

Gares stiffened slightly, perhaps reading the underlying warning in his voice.

Varkas gestured with his chin toward the chair opposite him.

“Sit. We must discuss our next move.”

“How high and mighty. I suppose even the Crown Prince looks like a joke to you now that you’ve been appointed Commander-in-Chief?”

His face contorting in frustration at his brief moment of intimidation, Gares sneered through gritted teeth.

Varkas’s voice dropped to a cold, low tone.

“I told you to sit.”

The Crown Prince, veins bulging in his neck as he glared at him, finally dragged the chair back and sat down.

Varkas spread a map before him and began his explanation in a calm voice.

“From now on, your direct units will be stationed in the rear. Focus your efforts on camping in the southwestern region of Amasec and cutting off their supply lines.”

“Are you telling me to run away like a coward to avoid those lowly commoners?”

“This uprising is the result of the ruthless suppression you have carried out. His Majesty is wary of any further increase in the northerners’ hostility toward the Imperial Family.”

Gares’s face flushed crimson at the words of criticism. He slammed his fist onto the desk and spat out a question.

“Are you saying this situation is my fault?”

Varkas neither confirmed nor denied it, calmly continuing his explanation.

“If the Crown Prince, the future ruler of the Empire, massacres the Valto civic forces, the resentment will reach an irreversible level. To reintegrate Valto into the Empire, His Majesty has decided he needs someone else to get their hands dirty on the Crown Prince’s behalf.”

“And you’re the cleaner chosen for that task?”

Gares snorted derisively.

“And I suppose you merely accepted the offer to be Commander-in-Chief out of humble loyalty to me?”

“That is correct,” Varkas replied smoothly. “However, it seems my cousin is intent on causing a rift in my loyalty to the Empire.”

“…….”

“If I am not needed, please say so. If you command it, I will gladly lead the reinforcements back to the East.”

Gares clenched his teeth as if he might explode at any moment.

A tense silence hung in the air for a long time. Finally, the Crown Prince ground his teeth and muttered, “Fine. I’ll follow your instructions for now. But since I’m moving my troops to the rear, the results had better be certain.”

With that, he stood abruptly and strode out of the tent.

The following day, Varkas immediately reorganized the ranks and began to pressure Amasec. He had no intention of forcing a battle.

After thoroughly isolating the city to block the expansion of the rebel forces that had begun to spread like poisonous mushrooms, Varkas built a base to the north and severed the flow of the Luden River into Amasec.

It required a staggering amount of magic tools and gunpowder to divert the course of the massive river, but the effect was certain.

According to spies planted within the castle, signs of division were already appearing among the citizens.

Based on records the Imperial Army had obtained after capturing the city, a vast amount of food—enough to last at least six months—was stockpiled within the walls of Amasec. However, the water supply was a different story.

Without water, they would have no choice but to raise the white flag within a month. Now, all he had to do was wait for the moment the trapped rats made their final, desperate struggle.

Varkas stationed layers of cavalry around the city gates in preparation for the upcoming clash.

Several weeks passed. An unexpected visitor arrived at the camp.

“It has been a long time, Lord Shikan.”

Varkas, who had been standing atop a watchtower looking down at the isolated city, turned toward the voice.

He saw several hundred knights carrying long spears with green banners riding up the hill.

The large man at the front shouted in a cheerful tone.

“No, I suppose I should call you Your Excellency the Grand Duke now.”

Recognizing the man’s face a beat late, Varkas furrowed his brow. He was the second son of the Duke of Bleystone, one of the most prestigious families representing the North.

Varkas slowly descended the stairs and approached the man.

The man hopped down from his horse and politely extended a hand toward him.

“We met once at an event in the Imperial Palace long ago. How have you been?”

“It has been a while.”

Varkas took his hand, scanning the man cautiously.

The Bleystone family currently held the leadership of the Northern Noble Alliance in place of the Heimdal family.

Why was the man, who should have been at the peace talks at Dolakan Castle, here?

As Varkas sent him a questioning look, the man broached his business in a cautious tone.

“I have come to make a proposal on behalf of the Bleystone family. Could you spare a moment?”

Varkas peered into the man’s eyes as if gauging his intentions, then gestured toward the entrance of the camp.

“You may enter. But only you and one guard.”

The man’s face stiffened slightly, but he nodded with a resigned sigh.

Varkas headed straight past the checkpoint to his tent.

Inside the large tent provided only to commanders, there was only the bare minimum of furniture for living. Varkas stepped inside and sat at a somewhat rugged conference table, gesturing for the man to sit.

The man, who had been looking around the entrance, sat down across from him in silence.

“What is your proposal?”

At the blunt question, a flicker of annoyance crossed the man’s face. He hadn’t expected him to get straight to the point.

Clearing his throat, the man complained softly.

“Your hospitality is rather sparse. Surely you can at least offer a drink?”

“I will decide whether to treat you as a guest or an intruder after I hear your business.”

A heavy sigh escaped the man at the dry response.

“Fine. I shall get straight to the point. This…….”

The man pulled a small envelope from his coat and held it out.

Varkas raised an eyebrow.

“What is this?”

“A personal letter from my brother, Duke Rowin Bleystone.”

Varkas confirmed the Bleystone seal on the envelope, then took the letter and broke the wax.

On the yellow parchment was written a shocking request: to recommend Anastair, the legitimate daughter of the Bleystone family, as the Crown Princess.

A thin smirk touched Varkas’s lips.

“This is absurd. Even if the Northern Noble Alliance has returned to the Imperial side, the fact that you all once conspired in Heimdal’s treason cannot be erased. And yet you are asking me to elevate the daughter of a family that harbored rebellious intent to be the Crown Princess?”

“There is no other way at this point.”

The man, looking tense, moistened his dry lips and continued carefully.

“Your Excellency must know well that the sentiment of the Valto citizens is precarious. To quell this, there must be a demonstration that the Empire is generously embracing Valto. What could be a more definitive statement than a pure-blooded Northerner becoming the Crown Princess?”

He paused for a moment as if seeking agreement.

Varkas didn’t say a word, merely gesturing with a slight tilt of his chin for him to continue.

Provoked by the arrogant attitude, the man leaned forward, bracing his hands on the table.

“At this rate, the war won’t end even in several years. The reason the peace treaty has been stalled for six months is that the Northern Noble Alliance lacks the certainty that their position will be guaranteed. But if Anastair becomes the Crown Princess, that distrust will vanish at once.”

Varkas tapped the table with his fingertips, staring down at the letter from the Duke of Bleystone.

It was a tempting offer. It was also the most realistic solution at present.

The problem was whether Gares would accept this compromise.

Feeling a headache coming on, Varkas pressed his temples. Getting that madman to listen wouldn’t be easy. Still, if he could coax that brat properly, he could end this tedious war in one fell swoop.

If things went well, he might be able to return to Raedgo Castle by spring.

He gripped the parchment tightly.

“Fine. I will push for this. However, there is one condition.”

“Name it.”

“The moment the marriage is finalized, the Northern Noble Alliance must stand at the forefront of suppressing the rebels.”

“That is…….”

The man’s face hardened.

Varkas pushed relentlessly.

“We cannot have a situation where the Imperial Army is seen as the one oppressing Northerners. You must be the ones to execute the traitors yourselves. That is how the Northern Noble Alliance will prove its loyalty.”

“…….”

“If you do not agree to this, I cannot bring this proposal to His Majesty the Emperor.”

After a long hesitation, the man finally replied in a heavy tone.

“Understood. I will convey your terms to my brother.”

He then stood up and extended his hand again.

Just as Varkas was about to take it, the loud blare of a horn echoed from outside the tent.

Varkas immediately grabbed his sword and rushed out. At the same time, the thunderous shouts of soldiers rang out.

“The enemy attack has begun!”