Ch#228
“A frontal assault is nothing short of a suicide mission.”
One of the commanders from the Imperial Alliance spoke, pointing a fingertip at the map spread across the table.
“The moment the army enters the slope, they will be showered with falling rocks and arrows from atop the castle walls. And there are no suitable alternative routes to bypass it.”
“It’s not as if there are none at all, is it?”
Daren, who had been scrutinizing the complex terrain marked on the map with his arms crossed, spoke up.
“What do you think about moving north to approach the rear of the castle, as His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince attempted? As long as we are careful of ambushes, this route is the most realistic option. If we can establish a base behind the fortress, we’ll be able to occupy the geographically superior high ground.”
“If we can manage to enter safely, that is.”
Kylias, who had been sitting at the end of the long table with a stiff expression, pointed at a pass on the map and added caustically, “To approach the rebel base, we have to pass through a narrow mountain path barely wide enough for two carriages. Furthermore, the Yotengar Mountains are frequently shrouded in thick fog, even in the middle of the day. If luck isn’t on our side, we could be trapped in fog so dense we can’t see an inch ahead.”
The man glared at him, spitting out each word as if pressing them down.
“That was precisely why we were left helpless against the ambush.”
Varkas stared down at the map, which detailed the terrain of Yotengar, without offering any response.
The fortress where the rebels were stationed backed onto a steep rock cliff to the east, making approach from that side impossible. To the south, a relatively gentle slope continued, but the entrance was too narrow to deploy a large-scale force.
As Daren said, attacking the rear of the castle was the most realistic method.
The problem was that the enemy certainly knew this as well.
He pressed his fingers to his temples, thinking of his cousin’s reckless march. If Gares had been just a little more prudent in managing his troops, keeping in mind the possibility of hidden forces on the detour, this disaster would not have occurred.
‘He likely assumed an ambush was improbable, grown arrogant in the belief that he was catching the enemy off guard.’
He let out a heavy sigh.
Gares’s rashness was nothing new, so he could overlook that, but it was difficult to dismiss the fact that every circumstance had flowed too perfectly in favor of the enemy as mere coincidence.
Given how a lure was cast at the perfect time to provoke an impulsive reaction from Gares—who was already incensed by the news of the engagement—and how the timing of the ambush was excessively precise, there was a high probability of an internal collaborator.
His suspicion immediately turned toward the person who would be most pleased by this situation.
If ‘that woman’ was behind all of this…
Varkas covered his forehead with one hand. If his guess was correct, that woman could only be seen as insane.
If it were revealed that she had collaborated with traitors to cause a rift in the Empire and pushed the Crown Prince into a trap, she would not be able to escape the gallows.
The punishment would not end there. It would extend to her family, and even her children…
“What are your thoughts, Your Excellency?”
His complex train of thought was abruptly cut off.
Varkas turned his head to look at the man who had asked the question. Theoric Hart, one of the key figures of the Roem Knights, was watching him with a pensive gaze.
“Rather than attempting a forced attack immediately, wouldn’t it be better to block the paths leading to the fortress and move into a defensive hold? Regarding His Imperial Highness…”
The man added cautiously, drawing out his words as if choosing them carefully.
“I believe it is desirable to leave room for negotiation. If things go wrong, Your Excellency might end up shouldering the responsibility for His Imperial Highness’s safety.”
“I appreciate the concern, but I have no intention of reversing my decision.”
Varkas spoke firmly as he stood up and picked up a stylus. He then gave instructions, marking points on the map that could serve as bases.
“Split the units in two. The main force will establish a camp here, to the south. The rest will detour north and approach from the rear. For now, set up camp at the foot of the mountain leading to the entrance, and the moment a signal is sent, move in along the path immediately.”
“As I have said repeatedly, the detour carries the risk of a surprise attack—!”
“That is enough unnecessary interference.”
Varkas cut off Kylias’s counterargument sharply.
“I don’t think the opinion of a defeated soldier who handed the Crown Prince over to the enemy is worth taking to heart.”
At the softly delivered venom, the faces of everyone in the room—not just Kylias, but all the Roem Knights—hardened.
Indifferent to the chilled atmosphere, he continued calmly.
“I will send a scouting party in advance to thoroughly investigate the area around the fortress. Select a suitable number of men.”
“I will deploy our special task force as scouts,” said Daren, who had been silent, lightly raising a hand.
Varkas gave a nod.
“Since the general outline seems decided, let us adjourn.”
As he unilaterally ended the meeting, the commanders, who had been stealing glances at one another, soon stood up one by one.
Varkas watched the knights linger and scatter before stepping out of the tent.
Just then, Daren’s voice called out from behind him.
“Your Excellency.”
Turning his head, he saw the worried face of his subordinate.
The man gestured toward the outskirts of the military camp and said, “Could we speak for a moment?”
Without a word, Varkas turned his steps in the direction he indicated.
As they crossed the campsite crowded with tents and reached the outskirts of the basin, pitch-black darkness surrounded them.
Daren, who had been walking in silence for a while, finally spoke upon reaching the palisade.
“…Do you truly intend to leave His Imperial Highness as he is?”
Varkas looked up at the blackened sky without answering.
Daren continued anxiously, “It is an undeniable fact that His Imperial Highness is extremely impulsive and immature. However, is the Second Prince not equally an unstable presence?”
Daren’s voice grew even more somber.
“Behind the Second Prince is Senevier Taren. The current Empress will become a more dangerous existence than the Crown Prince.”
The man paused for a moment, scrutinizing Varkas’s face intently before adding carefully, “Furthermore, did you not swear to the late Empress Bernadette that you would protect the Crown Prince? If it becomes known that you have forsaken a soul-bound oath, it will leave a fatal stain on your honor.”
“Is that all you have to say?”
Varkas, who had taken a waterskin from his waist to dampen his throat, asked back in a dry voice.
Daren continued in a frustrated, impatient tone. “There are still many who criticize Your Excellency for unilaterally breaking the engagement with the First Princess. If you turn a blind eye to the Crown Prince in the midst of this, everyone will think the Ducal House has turned to the Empress’s side.”
A dry, short laugh escaped Varkas’s lips as he listened to the long-winded lecture in silence.
“It seems you are afraid I will be accused of losing my mind over the Empress’s daughter and abandoning both loyalty and honor.”
Daren pressed his lips thin, unable to either confirm or deny.
Varkas closed the cap of the waterskin and straightened his body from where he had been leaning against the fence.
“Do not worry. I will not do anything to smear the name of my house.”
“What does that mean…?”
Varkas ignored the question and turned back toward where his tent was pitched.
“I shall head in now. We must save at least a little strength if we are to move as soon as dawn breaks tomorrow.”
Then, he gripped Daren’s shoulder firmly once before letting go and strode through the dark campsite.
The next day, after leading the army north, Varkas halted the march at the foot of the mountain when the sun reached its zenith.
Then, as decided the previous day, he split the forces in two, positioning the main body at the front of the fortress and having the remaining unit circle around the mountain ridges surrounding the fortress to move to the rear.
Soon after, nearly fourteen thousand soldiers began to move in perfect order.
While they established the camp and set up siege engines, Varkas led about thirty soldiers up the steep mountainside.
The terrain was extremely rugged and the mountain slopes were steep, making it unsuitable for stationing a large force, but it was perfect for a small unit to move while avoiding enemy eyes.
He nimbly bounded up the steep slopes that were practically cliffs, signaling directions to the soldiers following him.
How long had they moved like that?
By the time the sun began to tilt, they were able to reach a position overlooking the enemy fortress.
He stood atop a large boulder and surveyed the internal structure of the fortress with a careful gaze.
“Surely scouting the enemy camp could be left to the scouts. Why is Your Excellency personally taking on such trouble?”
Edric Luvon, who was out of breath from chasing after him, grumbled as if he couldn’t understand.
Instead of answering, Varkas pointed toward the steep mountain path.
“Let’s go a little further.”
Then, he began climbing the rock face again.
When they finally reached a suitable spot, he ordered the completely exhausted soldiers to rest, then pulled a parchment from his tunic and began recording the internal layout of the fortress.
The enemy’s base had a very solid structure. The size of the stationed force far exceeded expectations, and the defensive facilities were tightly organized.
‘This won’t be easy.’
He clicked his tongue softly and roughly ran a hand through his sweat-soaked hair. Then, sensing a strange gaze, he turned his head.
Edric, who was sitting on the ground catching his breath, was staring at him intently.
Noticing that his gaze was fixed on his waist, Varkas furrowed his brows.
“What are you looking at?”
“No… I was worried because you were so cold until the day you left… I suppose you did end up delivering it.”
Varkas narrowed his eyes at the incomprehensible words and glanced down at his waist.
Attached to the belt the servant had prepared was a pouch embroidered in the Eastern style.
